Hey hey hey. [Music] Wow. Wow. Wow. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Good afternoon and welcome to the October 6, 2025 meeting of the Atlanta City Council. My name is Dustin Hillis, president prom of the council. The president is out today. Like to ask the clerk to please call the role. >> Good afternoon, Mr. President Prom and members of council. We have council member Michael Julian Bond, plus one at large. Council member Matt West Morland, post two at large. >> Here. >> Council member Isa Collins, post three at large. >> Council member Jason H. Winston, District 1. >> Here. >> Council member Cardon Wolf, District 2. >> Here. >> Council member Byron D. Amos, District Three. >> Here. >> Council member Jason Dozer, District 4. >> Present. >> Council member Liliana Bactiari, District 5. >> Here. Council member Alex Juan, District 6. Council member Howard Shook, District 7. Council member Marin Norwood, District 8, >> here. >> Council President Prom Dustin Hillis, District 9. >> Present. >> Council member Andrea Elon, District 10. >> Present. >> Council member Marcy Ky Over Street, District 11. >> Present. >> Council member Antonio Lewis, District 12. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, Mr. President protend. We do have a quorum of members present. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. And you did mention her name in the roll call, but I'll take a point of personal privilege and welcome Cardon Wyoff, Council Member Cardon Wyoff to her first council meeting as our appointee to the district. [Applause] >> Thank you. >> And before we get to the adoption of the agenda, uh I will um with no objection, I'll make some modifications. We do need to handle two committees in committee of a hall today and that is public safety and legal administration committee and the transportation committee. So we will rearrange those to take those at the beginning of the report of standing committee. So we can enter uh committee of a hall to handle both of those. And so u I will make a motion to adopt. Is there a second? Second. And we can handle that uh by unanimous consent. Madam cl the count of unanimous consent. >> Nine yay. Zays. [Music] 10, zero nays. >> 10 and zero nays. Thank you, madam clerk. Uh we'll be moving on to the invocation. Uh we do not have a pastor with us today, so I will uh hear from council members for any uh remembrances uh before we have our me moment of silence. Council member Boone. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro Tim, I would like to send condolences to the family and friends of Matthew Cardinelli, who was a wonderful spirit here in the city of Atlanta for so many years. He was an advocate for progressive social change. He drafted some 21 ordinances and resolutions that are now law in the city of Atlanta, including laws for affordable housing, criminal justice reform, disability rights, public comment, and public participation, community benefits, small businesses, and transparency. Let's all remember the work that Matthew did when he was here in Atlanta and beyond. He was also born in Plantation, Florida and grew up in Broward County, Florida. Matthew Cardinelli. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Boon. Anyone else? Council Member Doer. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro Tim. I want to acknowledge uh and send our uh thoughts and prayers to the family of Miss Sarah Lee Ridgeway. Uh Miss Ridgeway was a stalwart community member in the Venetian Hills community. She lived on Witch Witchah Drive and had been very active civically active for a very long time both her neighbor association and her NPU and in her sorority. Uh she was an active member of Simma Gamma Rose sorority and encourage her sorority sisters to stay engaged in public uh engagement public and community engagement every step of the way whether it's local government whether it's federal government. She wanted to make sure that her sisters were at the forefront of at every polling place every election cycle all the time. And so, uh, we lost her at the tener age of 75 and, uh, our community members are, uh, in mourning for her passing. >> Thank you, Council Member Doer. Any other members before we enter a moment of silence? All right, let's have that moment of silence. Thank you. you please join me in standing for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. We'll be moving on to our proclamations. I would like to invite council member Andrea El Boon in recognition of the honorable win Murray and Morehouse College. And if you're here for that proclamation, you can please join us up here on the dis. Will you all please stand and come up with the Honorable Winfield Ward Murray? Please stand. If you are with Morehouse College and Winfield Murray, please come on up. What a great day in the city of Atlanta Georgia. Good afternoon. We are here to honor a native son, the Honorable Windfield Ward Murray at Morehouse College. Judge Murray has done so much good in the city of Atlanta and this is just a small token of us saying thank you on behalf of the citizens of Atlanta. You have made us proud. And now a short video. The Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership has been at Morehouse College for over 25 years. During that time, it has consistently focused on the leadership development of our students. Our higher education and prisons program is considered a centerpiece of the Andrew Young Center. I say that because it is the perfect opportunity for Morehouse College to extend its unique mission and its unique curriculum into our community. >> The United States locks up more people per capita than any other nation in the world. Georgia Department of Corrections says that two out of three incarcerated individuals in Georgia will return to prison within 5 years. But if you add higher education, those students who receive sustained courses, say the equivalent of an associates degree, the number drops to 13% nationally. And for those who receive a bachelor's degree in prison, the number of uh drops to 5%. >> Teaching at Metro Re-entry, wow, in the fall was one of the most extraordinary experiences I have had as a professor in my life. The thing that was so remarkable to me at the end of the day is how much it affected me. So you go on thinking like you're going to make impact. You want to make impact. You're nervous that you won't. And then you come out and you realize you're the one who probably got the greatest gift. In this role as a prison education ambassador, um I go into the systems, you know, with the faculty and just I talk to the incarcerated individuals about just by education, how they can further themselves and that there is still much that they can do while they're in the system. So when I found out about this initiative that Morehouse had, um I actually knew that this is what I wanted to do that it was for me. There is something hugely um gratifying having the opportunity to teach at Morehouse. Teaching at the prison though is also very special given that these are typically individuals that feel that they have been manded by the educational system. For them having the opportunity to take college level courses from instructors from Morehouse is a dream come true. So they take it very seriously because this is something that they thought that they would not have. >> If you have knowledge of yourself, knowledge of your history, knowledge of your culture, it empowers you. >> Everyone has potential and education enables you to explore your potential, challenges your thoughts. You can explore your inventory of ideas and grow upon them. You're not also learning by yourself. You're learning with others. And it's through others that help you see your own potential. >> Education is definitely a deterrent to crime. I want to say that outright because again, and I can't express this enough that to you, you you can want to do better, but if you don't have the knowledge, you don't know how. I wanted to distance myself from my past. I wanted to create opportunities for myself. And if I didn't learn anything, how was I going to do that? It's an audacious experiment. It attempts to take a space that is really used to punish people and turn it into an emancipatory space where people can feel free to hope and dream to discover themselves and prepare themselves for returning into their respective communities. I've always asked myself the question over seven, eight years that I was a part of the BPI program. Where are the H.B.CU? cus and I think back to the history of H.B.CU and how they came into being from what I've read you know the H.B.CU were meant to help formerly enslaved people and a foothold in society. The the the closest parallel to formerly enslaved people today I think are incarcerated people. And if H.B.CU aren't leading the movement of of college and prison programming, then they're not holding up to the to the to that mission. Like, we have to continue that fight. Today we have with us our deputy COO Theo Pace, the Honorable Judge Ronald Freeman, the Honorable Judge Eric Donaway, Reigns Carter, City Solicitor Kim Patrick from the City of Atlanta Law Department who served with the Honorable Winfield Murray, former chief of staff Marva Lewis. If you would raise your hand, Marva, thank you for being here. Hakeim Hillard, Esquire Morehouse, CFO of the year, Muhammad Balo, Wayne Martin Jr., and so many other who have gathered today to pay tribute to a wonderful native son. Our first speaker, Meredith Lily Esquire. Good afternoon, everyone. >> Afternoon. >> Can you all hear me? >> All right. Thank you, city council woman Andrea Boon. It is truly an honor to recognize my friend, my big brother, Judge Winfield Murray, a man whose life reminds us that real greatness isn't about position, it's about purpose. Now, you've already heard his impressive bio, the education, the accomplishments, the impact. But what truly distinguishes Winfield isn't just his brilliance, but it's his heart. Although he grew up with opportunity right here in Atlanta, he has spent his life making sure others have the same. And let me tell you, he does it all in style. Do y'all see this suit? When Winfield and I go to dinner, I'm I'm usually rushing in with a baseball cap and shorts on, very casual, but he's always sitting straight back in a perfectly tailored suit like he just stepped out of a magazine. I always joke that he makes me feel like I'm showing up for a job interview, but within minutes we're laughing, talking for hours about life, faith, and service. That's the balance of Winfield. Polished on the outside, but humble and deeply genuine on the inside. He pours himself into the community as a debate coach at Morehouse. And let's give our guys from Morehouse a round of applause. They're standing up here. He's shaping the next generation of sharp, confident young men as an educator inside Burough State Prison through Common Good Atlanta, ensuring that even those society has written off still have access to education, dignity, and hope. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?" George Murray answered that question every single day through me mentorship teaching advocacy and compassion. He's the kind of person who leads quietly, but leaves an unmistakable mark wherever he goes. His work reminds us that greatness isn't measured by titles, but by how deeply one chooses to serve. So this afternoon, we don't just honor a federal judge. We celebrate a man who lifts as he climbs, who gives as he grows, and who proves time and time again that service is the truest form of leadership. Let's give a round of applause for Judge Murray. Thank you. I also would like to recognize attorney Rod Edmund. We love your family. >> We love your family. Thank you for all you do for the citizens of Atlanta. Also, Mr. Michael Tyler, thank you for all you and your family have done. Kathy used to be here with us on city council. We will never forget her leadership. Thank you. And Dr. Tob Johnson's son is also here. Thank you for everything that your father uh meant to district 10, the city, CT Martin, and everyone. Thank you. School board member Tolen Pace. Thank you as well for being here. Our next speaker will be the honorable Ronald Freeman, native of Atlanta. Judge, please come. >> Excuse me. >> Good afternoon. Afternoon. >> I stand here another day proud to be a 1982 graduate of Morehouse College. >> But it is days like today that resonate with me. Morehouse men who continue to answer the call. And in this instance, it is definitely Judge Murray. what he is doing with the education there in the prison system, what he is doing at Morehouse College, but more importantly, what he is doing touching, living, and enriching the lives of Morehouse men is beyond remarkable. Judge Murray, thank you for being a true Morehouse man, and thank you for answering the call. Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. Our next speaker is Daxton Pettis. >> Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here in honor of Professor Murray and in honor of the prison program. The class is about or to get to the class, it is about 75 minutes from here to Burus Correctional Facility. After one of many Professor Murray's many jobs, I would meet him here or I'd meet him at the school and we'd make that trip and I would be a student at Burus prison. And as people who go to the prison will soon learn if they don't already understand, education is a right even though lawmakers and politicians would make it a privilege and we would discuss it as such. Reflecting on Professor Murray's work and at my time at Morehouse, Spellman, Clark, Emory, and other collegiate institutions, the most rigorous, passionate, and reflective students I have seen at Buris Prison. The class is short. It is 60 to 75 minutes, but being in the classroom, it feels like you're living through lifetimes. It is a blessing in our society to have such programs that connect people who are incarcerated with books, education, and a mental mobility to think beyond the walls that confine them. In these prisons, I've seen actors that will make you forget that you're watching a play behind steel guarded doors. I've heard violinists who play beautifully self-composed parts of their own written symphony that they've written while incarcerated. And in each class that I visit, I leave better and more educated because of the attention, intellect, and growth that happens with the people who are incarcerated in those 60 to 75 minutes. It is a great thing for this work to be recognized, but it is the best thing for it to continue and grow beyond the walls of the people who are incarcerated in Burus and in Atlanta. And it must grow with people who view education not as a privilege, but as a right. Thank you. >> Thank you. De Miller Landu. >> Thank you. Thank you for having me here today. Um Winfold Award Murray is a Morehouse professor, a federal immigration judge, an active member of Leadership Atlanta, leader of the nationally ranked Morehouse Moot Court team. He's a father to a teenage daughter and a friend and mentor to many. But the thing that sticks out to me the most is that Winfield is an educator. Not in a mansplaining professorial kind of way. He's an educator in a way that makes the makes the world make sense. He has an uncommon ability to see the world through the eyes of others. I learn something every time we talk. So, it was my great honor to accompany him to Burus Correctional Facility, where through his work with Common Good Atlanta and Morehouse's Andrew Young Center's higher education and prisons programs, he takes time out of his busy schedule to prepare lesson plans, drive in Friday rush hour traffic, go through security and a maze of locked gates to bring context and education to prisoners, men who are largely forgotten by society. This Morehouse man in his three-piece suit somehow makes these men feel like his equal. He doesn't dumb it down. Instead, he lifts it up. Winfield teaches them to realize their ideas matter and he believes it. And as a result, they believe it, too. Some of these men grew up in prison. Others have been incarcerated for decades. Others are recent offenders. They are in prison for a range of mistakes, often infused with a complex stew of poverty, racism, and other societal challenges. These issues are complicated and hard. But the data is unrefutable, is irrefutable. When prisoners get education in prison, they are less likely to reaffend. They believe they can possibly if they believe they can positively contribute to society, they will. I was honored to write an article about Winfield's work for Atlanta magazine and I am honored to be here today to see to share how Winfield's work helps other people make sense of the world. We should all be so lucky to have such a friend. And now for the official proclamation in recognition of the honorable Winfield Ward Murray. Whereas the Atlanta City Council is pleased to recognize the uncompromising collegiate education within the Georgia prison system provided by Professor Judge Winfield Ward Murray of Morehouse College. Professor Murray has taught incarcerated students for more than half a decade through both Common Good Atlanta and Morehouse College. And whereas Professor Judge Murray believes that higher education is a human right and that incarcerated individuals are indeed intellectual beings that deserve access to higher education. And whereas approximately 2 million people are incarcerated in the United States, of which seven in 10 are individuals of color and a significant number are for nonviolent offenses such as drug possession and property crimes. The United States spends nearly 182 billion annually on its mass incarceration system. And whereas the college education provided by Professor Winfield Murray benefits incarcerated individuals, their families, taxpayers, the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond. And whereas said college education has significantly reduced the rate of recidivism and increased postrelease employment which results in successful re-entry of formally incarcerated individuals overall. And whereas the college education provided leads to intergenerational mobility by breaking the cycle of inequality and incarceration. And whereas Professor Judge Murray not only serves as a professor of students at Morehouse College, as well as a professor within the Georgia prison system, but he also serves as a United States immigration judge. Murray began his legal career serving at the helm of Atlanta's community court for seven years. In his capacity as a professor at Morehouse College, he has continued a long-standing tradition of sending African-American men to law school to help increase the number of African-American attorneys in this country, which currently stands at only 5% of the legal profession. Murray continues to equip his pre-law students with the tools necessary to change the world by immersing his students in experimental learning such as merging his classes taught on the campus of Morehouse with those inside prisons, resulting in students that are more aptly prepared to one day represent marginalized groups in courtrooms across this country. Now therefore, bid resolve that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, do hereby proclaim Judge Winfield Ward Murray Day in the city of Atlanta Georgia. [Laughter] The next voice you will hear will be that of Judge Winfield Ward Murray. Good afternoon and thank you to everyone who is here today, especially all of the Morehouse alums who continue to make Morehouse a beacon of hope, not just in Atlanta, but across the globe. I want to thank the organizations that have made this type of work possible, namely the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership at Morehouse and Common Good Atlanta, which has allowed Morehouse faculty to go inside Georgia prisons to teach college courses. Thank you to my former and current Morehouse students who have journeyed into the prisons with me. When they go off to law school, they will have an insight and exposure that few other law students will have, and they will practice law with empathy and wisdom beyond that of their comrades. I also want to give a very special thanks to the Atlanta City Council and in particular, Council Member Andrea Boone, who made all of this possible. It is rare. It is rare that this type of work is acknowledged, valued, and appreciated. So, Council Member Boone, I want to sincerely thank you for shining a light on this type of important work. I started my career off as a prosecutor with the city of Atlanta under Reigns Carter and it was an eyeopening experience. I quickly realized two things. One, crime almost appeared to be a revolving door. individuals were arrested incarcerated released and then they would reaffend, continuing a vicious cycle that seemed to have no end. And second, most perpetrators are not inherently evil. Most are committing nonviolent crimes. And most are doing so because of one of four reasons: lack of education, lack of fiscal resources, substance abuse issues, and/or mental health issues. Reigns Carter allowed me to head up Atlanta's community court and I did so for seven years. In community court, we would address the underlying issues of why an individual was committed a crime. Every day I would go down to the basement of municipal court to Judge Clint Devau's courtroom. And in that courtroom, we changed lives. We saw the rate of recidivism drop by at least 38%. In my opinion, that is a tremendous success. Fast forward years later, I was still armed with the knowledge that restorative justice can make our communities safer without the expense of more jails and longer prison sentences. And that is when I met Sarah Higin Bothotham who was teaching inside prisons. We shared the belief that education is a human right. My dad was a local physician in Atlanta and he loved math and science. He always taught me that numbers do not lie. Well, the numbers for prison education do not lie. The rate of recetivism for those who have access to college education show shows a rate of recidivism as low as 0.01%. That is nothing short of phenomenal. The numbers paint a bleak picture for African-American men where black men are five and a half times more likely to be in prison and receive disproportionately longer sentences. So, it is befitting that Morehouse College, the only college dedicated to educating black men in this country, would take up the cause to go inside prisons to ensure that incarcerated men are able to obtain a higher education. The numbers do not lie. Restorative justice courts and education inside our prisons work. As a professor at Morehouse, teaching inside the prison and demanding the same level of work that we demand from our traditional students has been a transformative experience. Individuals who never thought they would have an opportunity to sit in a college course now have that opportunity. They now have hope when they did not think that that was even possible. One of my incarcerated students said it best. I never would have dreamed that I would have a year in my life where I would read, digest, and discuss Shakespeare, Jay-Z, Brown versus Board of Education, Plato, and Van Gogh all in one year. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the power of education. Thank you. >> J Adams, >> you come right here. Come right here. Thank you Morehouse College for allowing this type of work. Thank you on behalf of the city of Atlanta. In recognition of Morehouse College, whereas the Atlanta City Council is pleased to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Morehouse College through its Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership by providing accredited college courses to incarcerated men. And whereas Morehouse College has provided college level humanities courses to incarcerated students since the fall of 2020 through partnerships and its own innovation. And whereas Morehouse College is the only college in the United States with the unique mission to educate and empower black men to become leaders of consequence in all fields and to use their intellect to serve something greater than themselves. And whereas Morehouse College is focused on addressing systematic inequalities, whether they are societal barriers, economic barriers, or cultural barriers that face black men. And whereas the national rate of recetivism is 76.6% while the recidivism rate for people receiving college education is reduced to only 5.6%. And whereas studies demonstrate for every dollar invested in prison education saves taxpayers four to five dollars in reincarceration expenses. And whereas incarceration is not an equal opportunity punishment given that black Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of whites. And whereas Morehouse faculty believes that the college has more moral authority to speak to the issues impacting black men whether any other place on the planet. Morehouse faculty ensure that their work in prison education provides incarcerated men with exposure to educational resources that will increase their human capital and support the upliftment of their families and community. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the residents of Atlanta, do hereby recognize Morehouse College and the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership for providing transformative education to incarcerated students in the Georgia prison system. Our city extends its appreciation to your dedication, compassion, and ongoing success. Congratulations. On behalf of the Morehouse College Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership, we want to say thank you. We want to thank Professor Winfield Murray for his consistent demonstration of I don't even know how to describe what he's done. Dr. Murray started before we started doing this work and has demonstrated the impact of this important work. I also I want to thank the leadership at Morehouse for making this possible for supporting our efforts. the president of the college, the provost of the college, and all of the faculty who have been involved in this work. I also want to thank Common Good Atlanta. They have been doing this work far longer than us and have paved the way for many institutions in the state to offer courses to incarcerated students. Um, I just want to say thank you so much and we're very honored. Thank you. Give us your name and title. >> Yes. >> Good afternoon. My name is Javaro Michael Edwards. I am currently serving uh as the national alumni president for Morehouse College and I also sit on the board of trustees. All of the accolades that have been presented to my friend Winfield and our daughters actually go to school together. So, we've known each other for a number of years, and on behalf of our 18,000 uh members of our of our alumni group, thank you for doing the work that you do. And another behind thescenes thing that you don't know is that this man right here truly takes it upon himself to make it happen. driving his own car or renting a van and driving these young men across the country to compete in these moot court uh activities goes above and beyond the reaches of what his charge is. um being on that same side behind the scenes with you and sharing that with you um makes my heart just glow because it takes those types of efforts to make sure that the charge of Morehouse College and the charge of what you do uh gets out to everyone uh and exposes these young men to experiences that they probably wouldn't get to. So, thank you so much. I want to thank the Atlanta City Council. uh you guys do phenomenal work and uh if Morehouse College can partner with you at any point, that's what we're here to do. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> I do want to note that our chief of staff and our deputy COO, our members of Morehouse College and the CFO of the year, Muhammad Balo, Theo Pace, would you come in your own way? Come on y'all. Our deputy COO Theo Pace. >> Good afternoon everyone. Um I do want to say that uh my brother uh Winfield Murray which is from the class of 1998 I see you state representative uh Elma Mholly in the audience. Uh he truly represents you can tell a Morehouse man but you cannot tell him much. Um I met I met Winfield in August of 1994. We both served as freshman class officers and my first acknowledgement of him was that he wore a perfectly uh knotted tie that he still wears today. Um a fun fact, his grandfather actually taught my mother in high school in Haywood County, Tennessee. >> His mom went to school with my aunt. So Winfield and I go way back um a number of years. also neighbors as well in the greatest district in the city of Atlanta, District 10. Um, so I'm honored to be here with all of my Morehouse brothers and other men of Morehouse here today to celebrate this man because he has done so much not just for the college but for the community as well. So just want to say thank you, brother. Appreciate you. >> Attorney Rod Edmund Esquire. >> Oh. You got to say something. >> I'm going to say the obvious. Again, Rod Edmond from Atlanta and I've had the blessing of knowing in now probably about 15 to 20 years. This man is an angel. Um he has a spirit of giving that I haven't seen um in a long time. He does it lovingly. He cares about the students. He cares about our community. And all I want to say is, brother, keep on doing what you do. And as old folks like me, I'm gonna keep on following you, man. All right. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, >> Lane Martin Jr. >> I know the time is far spent, but I would be remiss if I did not recognize my good brother here today. You represent all that is good about a Morehouse man, and that is the learn, the earn, and the return. Clearly, you were a standout student, and you learned so much. We can look at your suits and tell you've earned a lot and I've been to your house so I know you've earned a lot. Uh but most importantly you have done the return. You are giving back to students across this state and right on our campus of our of our sacred grounds that we know as Mother Moore House College. I appreciate you and I my organization is going to contribute to your efforts uh to to help and support the debate efforts as well as your common good work so you don't have to rent cars and pay for it out of your pocket. Thank you my brother. I love you. Congratulations. Thank you so much. >> I know this young man truly believes in what Winfield stands for, his long legacy in this city. Hakee Hillyard. >> Thank Thank you very much, Council Member Boon. Uh Winfield reminds me of a character from a book uh that from a Nigerian playwright A.I. Quay Amma. Uh in the story uh when I think about Winfield, there's a there's a part in the novel where there's a character that's going back and forth trying to save Africans from being brought to America. And he keeps putting himself in dangerous way to save these folks over and over again. So much so that people around him are laughing. So why would you go out here and try to save these people? You need to save yourself. And his response was, there is no self to save without the rest of us. And that's who that's what Winfield represents for me. So I appreciate you. >> And now we will have an official photo with the city of Atlanta. Please come forward, Judge Murray. Will everyone join us for an official photo? Thank you. >> Sorry. >> All right. >> Here the gap. Hello. Hello. >> How are you? Will everyone please join us for a reception to the left? Quickly move to the reception um to the left to the reception area. Love you. >> Excuse me, sir. >> Our reception for the honorable Judge Renfield Murray will be to the left. I knew you had some Is that right? All right. At this time, I'll invite council member Byron Amos, who is already at the podium up for the proclamation in honor of Delta Airlines and Hartsville Jackson, uh, for its centennial anniversary. You're here for this proclamation. Please join us on the DAS. There we go. Good afternoon everyone. Um have two proclamations to honor at the same time. Um one is for the world's greatest um airline, Delta Airlines, and the other one is of course our very own Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. you know, a little under 22 years after the first flight was ever taken, Delta had the audacity to start off um as Huff Dalan Dusters and 100 years later, here we are celebrating them. Um whereas Delta established the headquarters in Atlanta in 1941, solidifying its role as economic driver and pillar in the Atlanta community. Whereas today, Delta's maintained a dedicated team of 100,000 employees who work tirelessly to provide a world-class customer experience, ensuring safe, efficient, and comfortable air travel for millions of passengers annually. Whereas Delta Worldclass connectivity links Atlanta to the globe, fostering business, tourism, and economic development, reinforcing Atlanta's position as an international gateway. And whereas Delta Airlines commitment to service, innovation, and community engagement has significantly contributed to the success and the prosperity of the city of Atlanta and beyond. Now therefore pro be proclaimed that we the members of the Atlanta City Council on behalf of the citizens of Atlanta do hereby declare this sixth day of October 2025 as Delta Airline Day in our great city in recognition of Delta's centennial anniversary and its unwavering dedication to the city of Atlanta and to its people. Good afternoon. I just want to on behalf of Delta Airlines, 108,000 people, say thank you to the city of Atlanta, thank you to the city council. Thank you to Mayor Dickens. This city has been an incredible home for Delta Airlines. It has allowed Delta to truly thrive and become one of the world's greatest airlines. And I will tell you, I'm proud to say that Atlanta not only has been an incredible home to us, but it will be our home for as long as Delta Airlines exists. And I can't wait. I I was about to say that I can't wait to be here at the 200th bsentennial, but I realized I won't be here. But we will be here to celebrate our 200 years because just like the best is yet to come for this great city of Atlanta, the best is yet to come for Delta Airlines. Thank you so much. >> Um any of my any of my colleagues want to say anything? Definitely. There we go. >> Yes, please. >> So, I'm a Delta Airlines retiree. Delta Airlines is what life is all about for me and has been since I was an 11th grader at Benjamin Elijah May's High School and I started in that summer program. And I knew that as soon as I graduated high school, all I wanted to do was work for Delta Airlines. And I did that. It was only supposed to be for two years and it ended up being 20 because it's the best place to work on the planet. I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm enjoying being a retiree and I'm absolutely in a whole another phase of my life where I am enjoying being on the transportation committee for the city of Atlanta for the world's most busy and most efficient airport and Delta Airlines is holding that airport down. And so this is a very proud moment. so welld deserved because all of my favorite things have come together today. So, uh, congratulations and I too want to be here for the 200th. >> Thank you. [Music] Um, as a board member on the Delta Airlines disability advisory board on accessible air travel, I personally choose Delta because of its commitment to accessibility and really excited to u be here to honor them for their centennial uh their accomplishment. So, thank you for being such a great airline service for the disability community and being here in Atlanta. [Applause] So, moving right ahead along, keeping these um planes on schedule. You cannot have Oh, you caught that, huh? You can't have planes in the air without some place for them to land. So, as we have the world's greatest airline behind us, Delta, we have been joined by the leadership of the world's most efficient airline, our most efficient airport. There we go. Hartsville Jackson Atlanta um international airport. And of course, both of them have celebrated their um centennials, but you know, um the proclamations got on a council flight, but that's another story. They are here today. Um and we're going to go ahead and um in recognition of the centennial anniversary of um Hartsville Jackson Atlanta Hartsville Jackson International Airport whereas in 2025 marks the centennial anniversary of Hartsville Jackson Atlanta International Airport commonly known as ATL a milestone celebrating 100 years of service growth and progress in the city of Atlanta. Whereas the airport's forward-looking ATL next capital improvement program has transformed infrastructure and opportunity generating 4.9 billion in approved invoices since 2015. Whereas ATL enduring success is a testament to the vision, leadership and innovation of city officials, airport management, airline partners and the dedicated workforce who have built and sustained its global prominence over the past century. And whereas the centennial celebration of Hartsville Jackson Atlanta International Airport provides a unique opportunity to reflect during this rich history honor the individuals who have contributed to the success and inspire future generations to continue ATL's legacy of excellence. Now therefore be proclaimed that we the members of the Atlanta City Council on behalf of the citizens of Atlanta do hereby recognize and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hartsville Jackson Atlanta International Airport commending its its profound and lasting contributions to the city of Atlanta to the state of Georgia and to the world. GM Smith. Congratulations sir. Uh good afternoon. And it is indeed an honor to be here for this this special uh day on behalf of our great mayor, the 10,000 employees of Department of Aviation and the 63,000 employees that keep um Hartsfield Jackson Lantern National Airport going. Um I am truly honored to be here. You know, it was just a 100 years ago where this campus was a racetrack and it employed some 100 people. The airport now employs over 63,000 employees, has an economic impact of over $30 billion annually. It is considered the gem of the south, and it is the busiest and most efficient airport in the world. It is amazing what can happen when you have leadership making very difficult decisions over that 100redyear period. Millions of decisions were made and obviously many of those decisions were good decisions and that's why we're standing here today. So again, thank you chairman, members of the council for this honor. It is truly a pleasure being here. >> Thanks sir. >> Any of colleagues want to say something? We're being joined by city attorney of course and our deputy COO. Any words? >> No. Okay. Um All right. Well, since Michael Bond isn't here, I said for him, let's do what we do best. Take a picture. So if everybody can move up All right. [Music] At this time, uh, I'll be offering a proclamation that was scheduled to be offered by President Shipman in recognition of the department of customer service ATL 311 and customer service week. If you're here for that proclamation, please join us up on the dis [Music] All right. Good afternoon again. So again, this is in recognition of the Department of Customer Service, ATL 311, and customer service week. Whereas the Atlanta City Council proudly joins organizations across the nation in celebrating customer service week, a time dedicated to recognizing the vital role customer service plays in strengthening communities and ensuring government services are accessible, effective, and responsive. And whereas the Department of Customer Service, ATL 311, provides the citizens of Atlanta with simple and convenient access to essential city services and information, exemplifying its mission to serve the public with diligence, care, and efficiency. And whereas exception exceptional customer service is a cornerstone of ATL 311's operations, fostering trust, accountability, and strong relationships with residents, businesses, and visitors alike. And whereas ATL 311's diverse and dedicated workforce consistently demonstrates professionalism and responsiveness, helping ensure that Atlanta remains a welcoming and efficient city for all. And whereas customer service week offers an important opportunity to highlight and c celebrate the contributions of the city's customer service professionals whose efforts often go unseen but are deeply felt across every neighborhood in Atlanta. And whereas the city of Atlanta recognizing recognizes that investing in and honoring our customer service workforce is essential to advancing the city's mission and improving quality of life for all residents. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Atlanta, do hereby declare October 6th through 10th, 2025 as customer service week in our great city and call upon all Atlantans to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of our customer service professionals and it is stamped with the city seal and signed by all council members and the council president. Commissioner Good. Thank you so much to you and your team. I'd >> like you to say a few words. [Applause] Well, thank you, Council Member Hillis, and to members of the Atlanta City Council for honoring us today, ATL 311. And we appreciate your continued support and leadership. to Mayor Dickens, COO Bergs, and DCO Pays for giving me the opportunity to lead a dynamic group of employees in the department in which some are standing behind me today, but I can assure you that we have a a big team on the phone still helping our customers. Customer service week is an international celebration that recognizes the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers daily. In ATL 311, our goal is to ensure that we offer excellent customer service with a true heart of service. Thank you ATL 311 family for all the great work you do and for making every customer feel heard, valued, and appreciated with the goal to turn every interaction into a positive experience. Your dedication and care does not go unnoticed and we are so thankful for the positive impact you make on every customer's journey. Thank you ATL 311 family for all the great work you do and we wish everyone that is celebrating a wonderful customer service week. Thank you again Atlanta city council. [Applause] At this time, I'll turn over to Deputy COO Theo Pace for a few words. >> Good afternoon. I just want to say on behalf of the mayor, uh, Andre Andre Dickens, and our chief operating officer, Landre Burks, I do want to thank Commissioner Good and the staff of the Department of Customer Service for all the work that they do. They play an essential role uh within our depart within our uh administration working with other departments to resolve customer uh and residential issues. So, I really want to say thank you to all and all the hard work that you all do. Thank you. >> Thank you. At this time, I'll welcome up council member Jason Winston in recognition of Atlanta's prime time seniors for their participation in the 2025 national senior games. And so if you are here uh for that proclamation, please please join us on the DAS. Let everybody get cozy up here. >> All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Uh, I'm Jason Winston. Uh, and as chair of the community development human services committee, uh, I am more than honored today as we recognize our prime time seniors who participated in the 2025 National Senior Games. Can we give a round of applause for everybody? So, I have a special proclamation I'm going to read, then we'll hear from our esteemed Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, Commissioner Justin Cutler. Uh, the Atlanta City Council recognizes Atlanta's prime time seniors for their participation in the 2025 National Senior Games, whereas the City of Atlanta's Department of Parks and Recreation provides the prime time senior program for adults over the age of 55 and over, 18 recreation sites across the city, registering 22 2,250 seniors. And whereas the prime time senior program offers cultural, educational, social, and physical activities for older adults. And whereas prime time seniors participate in Olympic style multisport events held at the local, state, and national levels promoting the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness, and active aging. And whereas the National Senior Games Association hosts the biionial national senior game which brings together over 11,000 participants over the ages between the ages of 50 to 100 plus from across the United States and Canada to compete in more than 25 sports since 1987. And whereas this worldclass competition celebrates the athletic accomplishments of older adults and inspires people of all ages to be active. And whereas 52 athletes representing the city of Atlanta from the prime time senior program participated in the Georgia Golden Olympics in Warner Robbins, Georgia, qualifying them to compete at the national senior games that was held July the 24th through August the 4th in Desmond De Moine, Iowa. And whereas these senior athletes represented eight different department of parks and recreation facilities including Reverend James Orange, Roselle Fan, Washington, CT Martin, Grove Park, Bessie Brandom Collier Park, and William Walker recreation centers. And whereas the city of Atlanta's office of recreation staff, coach, coordinated transportation, and encouraged these senior athletes at the national senior games. Now therefore, be a proclaimed that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the residents of the city of Atlanta, do hereby proudly recognize and celebrate the outstanding pers persever perseverance, dedication, and and achievements of the city of Atlanta's prime time senior athletes who serve as examples of what is possible for residents and and visitors of all ages. Signed by all members of the Atlanta City Council. Congratulations to our prime time seniors. I'll bring up Commissioner Cutler. >> Well, first, thank you, Council Member Winston, and members of Atlanta City Council for recognizing our amazing prime time seniors. Let's give another round of applause. As you can see around many of the necks are gold medals, silver medals, bronze medals for their hard work and dedication to bring home medals for the city of Atlanta for our prime time senior program. Um, but I also want to recognize a special group of people, the city of Atlanta parks and recreation staff. Yeah, >> they showed up day in and day out. Many of these seniors, we had a reception before. We're talking about just how loving and committed our staff are to making sure that they got where they're going at the right time at the right place. They're able to cheer each other on, coach the members of the prime time senior company. So, thank you to the Department of Parks and Recreation staff. Let staff, let's give them a round of applause. And thank you to the families of these athletes. You know, it's the families that also show up making sure that they get to where they need to go. supporting them day in and day out. So, thank you to the families of these athletes, these Olympians, and uh let's have a great celebration today. And I'll turn it over to Miss Wac. >> Good afternoon, everyone. >> I would also like to thank everyone here in city council, the honorable mayor Andre, all of you, all the staff of the office of recreation. This has been a long time coming and we do appreciate the recognition. When we first started out, we had 26. We have double that amount of seniors, most of them who have meddled in one capacity or another. So, we are just grateful. We are not getting older. We are getting better. So, watch out world, here we come. 55 plus. We can do all things through our Christ who strengthens us. And this is an example of what you see. So if you have relatives out there that are 55, we had 18, we now going towards 20 recreational sites. We will work with you. We will train you and we will get you in shape. And next year you'll be standing up here with us. Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. Thank you, council people. >> Thank you. >> And next, I'm going to welcome up one of my favorite constituents uh in district 1, Miss Maggie McCullum. >> Thank you. Thank you. On behalf of the Olympians, I wanted to give something to our mayor, Andre Dickens. In his absence, I would ask his COO, Theo Pace, would you please come up? We just wanted to share with the mayor to know that we are out here doing what he would have us to do and that is doing our best in everything with good health, good wealth and good God >> to keep us going. >> So I wanted to give you him this piece. >> Thank you. this donation from the Olympics and also to Commissioner Cutler. I wanted to give you something from the Olympics that we went and participated in to let you know you may have not been there with us, but you was in our heart >> and we thank you for giving us the opportunity to share these citizens in Atlanta. We are grateful. So don't think that your work is not done because somebody is always looking out for those may not call your name but we know you are there. Thank you. >> Thank you again Miss McCullum. Uh on behalf of our 61st mayor and our COO, uh as commissioner uh mentioned, really want to thank the uh Department of Parks and Recreation staff uh for all the work that they do. And congratulations to each of these seniors. I heard all the medals clanking when you all were walking up. So uh the word for today is I'm not getting older, I'm getting better. And I will see you all in about years. [Music] >> Thank you again. and and and did any of my colleagues want to say anything that okay so seeing none but I just want to again just say y'all look at these smiles look look how happy they are this is what it's all about I just want to just say thank you to our parks and recreation team in charge of programming uh making sure that our senior seniors can go out and represent us at these national senior games but but for what you do every day at our senior centers our recreation centers around the city of Atlanta having a place for them to gather having a place for them where they belong having a place where they can get together and communicate with one another uh and know that this city cares about them. This parks and recreation department cares about you and and we we this city council cares about you and just know that uh we're going to continue to invest in these programs to make sure that you have somewhere uh to get together together. So, thank you all again. Uh and we'll take our photo. Thank you. All [Music] right, that concludes our proclamations. Before we move on to public comment, I do want to again recognize Council Member Carton Wyoff and have her uh if any statements or uh thanks wants to be given at this time. This is probably easier. >> Well, thank you. Um, it's really an honor to serve the constituents of the city of Atlanta as council member of district 2. Um, it's uh just I'm so thankful to be here surrounded by amazing colleagues. So, council members, staff been incredibly supportive over the last couple of weeks. My term is fairly short. Uh it's unusual. I only have until December 31st, but um we are making it work. And I think what is also really exciting about this is um just being a representative of the disability community in government. um it's often thought of as an afterthought and I hope that I can just shed a little bit of light um recognizing accessibility and the importance of disability um the importance of disability inclusion within the DEI space and um just yeah thank you so much to my mom who's down there with the purple camera and my dear friends uh Peter and Brian uh for also being here. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you, council member. >> And this will begin our public comment time. Uh again, unless you've been allocated time, you'll be allowed two minutes. Uh the clock will start when you get to the podium and we'll promptly end at the conclusion of your time. First up, I have Maggie McCollum. You have four minutes. Good afternoon to all of my council members. I always have to share because there are so many seniors don't have a voice to speak or know what to say. So I am here on behalf of these seniors and also a part of commission on aging. Put others before yourself and you can become a leader amongst men's. Matthew 20 and 27. And whosoever will be chief amongst you, let him be your servant. I don't know if you are self reliant >> but not self-sufficient. I don't know if you are steadfast but not stubborn. I don't know if you're tenderhearted but not touchy. I don't know if you are generous but not gullible, meek but not weak, progressive but not potentuous. I am speaking about Atlanta Housing Authority. I'm speaking because there are five section 8 houses on my street within a quarter of a mile. Three of those houses are right in front of me. We are letting investors buy up everything. And when they buy up things, they put people into places not thinking about the community. Those are young people mostly. They have parties. There are shootings. >> They are blocking the street when they are partying. Don't even care about public safety. There are multiple people that are staying into these places. Why is this so? When Atlanta funds AHA, I have tried on numerous times to give them a call. The phone is like a robust call. It just goes and goes and goes and you hold and you hold and hold and nobody never picks up the phone. I've tried emailing, no response. I even tried texting, no response. Why can't we hold Atlanta Housing Authority accountable? These are tax dollars. I know we pay our work. They can ride in nice cars. Lexus, Camry, Nissan. Now, if you can pay for cars, you can actually play for somewhere to stay. I have been at the bottom. So, I know how hard it is to work your way up and still raise a child. But if you trust God, you can make it. I am tired. Can I get some assistance from this body on this matter? I have too many seniors staying in my neighborhood. I have an older neighborhood. My house I live in is 105 years old. And it's still standing. We have gotten away from community. We're beginning to build things. Just build them. We don't care if it looks like the community or not cuz we ain't got to stay there. Will this body of leaders rectify these problems for me? Thank you. >> Next is Noah Noel Harland. Hello, my name is Noel Heatherland. I reside in district three of our great city. I work for Georgia Equality, an organization that focuses on LGBTQ plus human rights and also cares very much about the housing policies in this city for all human beings. My partner and I came out today to speak alongside the coalition for justice for Cornelius Taylor on behalf of his memory and ask the city to make caring for all of our people who are unhoused more of a priority. We know that LGBTQ plus people are significantly represented in the population of folks who are housing insecure. And personally, my household, like many others, is just a couple of missed paychecks away from potentially finding ourselves unable to pay our rent. The city has presented one story to the public about what happened at Old Wheat Street. But those of us who either live there or have been on the ground regularly supporting the folks who live there know a different reality. In my time here today, I just want to name that quality, consistent meals and wraparound services have been lacking for the people that were sent to Welcome House and ask for you to all work with the residents to remedy this issue ASAP. We stand firmly against sweeping away our fellow neighbors and friends. There's never a justifiable reason to do sweeps. There's not adequate affordable housing in the city and without rent control and other housing assistance programs being readily available to those who need them, we will continue to see folks who need to make a home out on our streets. To end, I would like to add you to ple please rename Old Wheat Street in honor of Cornelius Taylor. He deserves to still be alive. We can at least keep his name alive. Thank you. [Applause] >> Next is Walter Reeves. Walter Rees, workers representative, uh, I have two issues. First of all, the federal government shutdown. Uh, the, uh, federal workers aren't being paid. Uh, f both furled workers and essential workers uh, can put in for unemployment at the Atlanta Career Center, which is right behind Peach Tree Plaza. uh Peace Tree Center, excuse me. And uh the only uh issue is that if and when they are repaid and get their back pave, then they just have to u uh repay their uh you know what they've received. This includes uh US court workers. Uh secondly, uh it should be noted that I've had uh two national public policy successes uh in the past year. In uh January, I called in the uh uh in December actually, I called in the New Orleans truck attack three days in advance. Uh the second issue as I uh uh argued with US Department of Justice two years in advance of the very sorted issue involving child prostitution at the United States embassy in Brussels. It should be noted that this is the socially appointed ambassadors in their entourage and does not include uh professional diplomats or uh locally hired u uh uh personnel. And uh this latter issue has delivered irreparable reputational damage to both our nation and our monetary system. and uh I've gotten a lot of uh street cred out of this and my speaking fee is now $16,000. Thank you very much. Next is Henry Jordan spirit of God everyone that's here. But now I have written unto you not keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or idoltor or a or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one know not to eat. 1 Corinthians 5th chapter 11th verse it has the idea of close habitual association drasters actions are a fornicator covetous extortioner drunker etc. Jesus says not to eat with this person. I'm seeking to avoid going to hell. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. St. Matthew 5th chapter 16 verse. It is to set his light upon a candlestick not hide it under a bushel that is a basket. When you hide what Christ is doing through me then you fight against God's light working to help you. And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not have him fall to the earth. But if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die." First Kings first chapter 52nd verse. The news of Solomon's kingdom brought an end to Ananas's plan. James scripted asked him for your death when he asked you to do wrong. To obey Jesus is life because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1st chapter 25th verse. Not many wise. The nature of Paul's argument tells us that most of the Corinthians congregation were of the poor class of Corinthian society. Christ desires us not to trust in our flesh and to trust in him working in us. When you give yourself credit for what Jesus has done through me, then you fight against Christ's gift working in me, not me. Jesus didn't tell me James was against his word and God's word created the income. You looking at me, I got submit to God's spirit for the gift to operate, not your way. >> Thank you. Your time is included. Next is Valerie Anderson. Due to allocated time, you'll have four minutes. [Music] Good afternoon. I wanted to know and this is a serious question that I have. If I am showing up here for my son Devon Anderson Jr. to get justice for my son for a year and two months. Yesterday made a year and two months. I lost my son to Melvin Potter of duty police officer who was on probation when he murdered my son. I've been coming down here now a year and two months. So if I'm doing my part, what I want to know, why you all not doing your part? I would never think it's going to take a year for me to find out something, anything about why my son was murdered. Why my son was murdered by Melvin Potter? Murdering Melvin. Why? Haven't gotten any answers as to why it happened. Haven't gotten any answers as to the obstruction charge that he got. what's going on with that because it's two separate it's two separate situation. We have him murdering my son and we have him being charged with obstruction. So, it's not the same thing. So, I want to know what you all doing because if I'm doing my part, I need you all to do your part because I feel as Devon Anderson Jr. mother. My son deserve deserve. I want to know why my son was murdered. I want to know why my son was murdered. And I want to know a year and a half in two months why I can't get any goddamn answer as to why why you murdered my son. You're all accountable for him. Just like I'm accountable for my son being a mother to my son. You're all accountable to him. You all get up in these seats. You get voted into these seats, you you may not use the word promise, but once you you get jobs, like they said, you making a promise to the people to make their their lives better. That's what that's what you all promising to do, to make their lives better. My life has not been better since August 5th 2024. has not been has not been for me. I miss my son every day that I feel that I have to come here every Monday, which don't get it twisted. I'mma be here like I promised from day one. I'mma show up and be present for my son. I'm going to get justice for my son. No matter how long it takes. I don't care how long it takes for me to get justice for my son. I don't care who tired of seeing me, who tired of hearing me. That's a you problem. That's not a me problem. Because Devon Sherman Anderson Jr. is my son. I'm his mother. So, Mr. Um, Jason Winston, um, I appreciate you introducing yourself to me. Pleased to meet you. Mr. Amos, I know we spoke, um, and you know, we had a talk, so I would like to know what's going on with the obstruction charge. Why we not hearing anything? Keith Meadows. Um, I don't even know what to say about him because he's at a I know he's not at work and being investigated or whatever the case is, but why am I not hearing anything from Fulton County? Why am I not hearing anything at all from Fulton County? Mr. West Men, we had a talk also, and I need to know if you could bring me up to speed as to what you found out. Miss Collins, we we we spoke also. So, somebody tell me something. Well, Mr. Amos, I would ask you a question. What What's Do you know anything about South Colton? Because this right here, me asking questions and nobody's answering me, that's disrespectful. That's goddamn disrespectful. And I'm not going to be standing up here and being disrespected. I'm I'm I'm not with that because if I ask a question and I call a name, I'm I'm I am wanting an answer. I don't I'm wanting a goddamn answer >> because I'm not coming down here just coming down here. >> My son was murdered. So I want an answer. >> I want an answer. Thank you, Miss Anson. Your time has concluded and council member Amos has indicated he would like to speak. Yes. Um, Miss Anderson, first and foremost, thank you for stopping to take the time and hold a conversation with me every time we talk. Um, one of the things I I am definitely clear on is you're very clear on the facts and you keep me focused on what must be happening. um have not got an answer for you out of the city of South Fulton, but you made it clear as we spoke earlier today is a very different charge of um obstruction that has happened that he has been charged in and then we must find your answer on that. So, as I've said, I'm going down this road with you. Give me a time and not a long time. Either give me to next week to talk to the leadership to see exactly what we're doing about that individual charge and then I continue my effort city of South Fton as well. You're welcome. Council member Collins. >> Yes. Hey, Miss Anderson. Good to see you. I know we we've talked a couple of times as well. I think in ter in also working collaboratively with Mr. Amos in terms of Fulton County, you know, we can try to find as many details as we can on the on where things are. But as you know, Fulton County being a different jurisdiction than the city of Atlanta. also the last time that we talked and we can follow up with Chief Sheerbomb as well on where that is with the new charge because also as we all also as is noted with Mr. Potter's employment history there is also um what it um civil service sorry it the civil service hearing part of all of this. So, we'll get some information. I I'll do my part and get some information as I've as I've done before to get as much update to you since the last time that we meet and I met and I'll get with Byron in terms of, you know, what he's found off with the the separate charge and also communicate with Chief again for you and have Chief Sherbomb to reach out to you as always. Okay. Thank you for that. It's good to see you as well. >> Hi, M. I would like to say to Mr. Lewis, Mr. Mr. Lewis. >> Mr. Lewis. >> Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis. I would like to say thank you from day one. >> Miss Miss Anderson. >> This is the council member's time to respond since they were mentioned in public comment. So, if you allow them to respond, we have council member West Morland and council member Lewis who would like to respond. Thank you. >> No, it's okay. We can talk on the phone as as well. Um, and I was actually going to suggest that perhaps you and I could reach out to the district attorney together so we can talk about that on the phone. >> Council member Council Member Lewis, >> Miss Anderson, I appreciate you. We had to make sure that the I know that they they had a a rule that they tried to bring into council whenever I used to try to speak in public comment. They said they used to have to say names first, but we found out that that's not a rule in council for real. And so before you said my name, the uh chair was telling me I couldn't speak and we were back making sure that he understood that the rule that's not a rule and that as a council person if I want to speak to something I can. And so full out with you on this and my what I was going to say was I wanted to reach out to see when was the last time APD uh updated you on this. That's my question to you. When is the last time APD >> Okay. So that's what we'll work on getting an update from APD on any new findings they may have or anything of that sort. I truly appre I hate that you have to come down here for this. I hate that you have to come down here for this and we are with you full out and my colleagues and I will work on a new update from APDT. Thank you again. Thank you chair. >> I'm not going anywhere. >> Thank you. Next is Helen Williams. This is for um Jason Doer. [Music] Good afternoon. My name is Helen Delilah Williams. Um I am a community uh member of Vine City and have lived there over 40 plus years at the address of 642 Leester. Um the reason I stand before you today um the last time I was here I was in front of the transportation committee speaking in reference of martyr. My concern with Martyr is that the underserved un underserving of our community. Martyr has now moved into a different way of handling their patrons. I read the history of the chief of police which came from the city of Atlanta. He was over Red Dog. Red Dog was decommissioned. Vine City English Avenue is a area of concern in which the city is strongly aware it's a dumping ground. It has been this blighted area over 30 plus years. I stand before you to say that as now I am a senior in this community, a young senior in this community, I have a concern of safety. I have a concern of the infrastructure in my community. I have a concern on how the property owners, major developers who actually just just overlook all the zoning codes that you actually have in place. And that's sad for seniors who's been there since day one. Our taxes are going up because of all the regentifications that's going on. Thank you for the Westside Future Fund TAG who helps us with our taxes as a senior residents in the community because if we did not have that, we would no longer be able to have our homes because of the high taxes. I'm just asking that you step in and step out of these seats and walk in your communities. Speak to your seniors directly. they have something to say. We cannot all come down here and speak to you directly, but you're moving around. Please just give them the give them the ear. My last comment that I would like to spend my time on is to share with you of an incident that has happened to me here in the in in the city hall. I spoke at the transportation meeting and then I went to the zoning location upstairs to look into a property issue that James Arpad is a community developer and he's harassing me on my property. So, I came down here to see what's going on with my property. I was 24 years old when I signed my lease on my house or bought my house. I knew nothing. They said your mortgage was going to be 367. I was like, damn. Okay. I pull up the table. 30 years later, I realize I done pulled up to a table I know nothing about. My house is under attack. My community has used my house as a landing spot. I have 19 versions of my name. >> Mr. Amos, I will not be able to register my vehicle. Reason being, I've been down to the DDS. I have nine vehicles already listed at my house, so I'm unable to list my vehicles, and that's sad. Back to the incident in the zoning area, then that was the reason I was up there checking on my property. I was had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Miss Cullums. When I sat down, the petition about that large fell on my head and it's a 25 to 30B petition. It has all the metal things on the side of it. And if you're unsure on what I'm speaking about, please go into the zone area. And the petition was carried off by two people. Um, so that lets you know it was extremely heavy. I was transported to Grady by the call of one of the city employees, discombobulated, not knowing whatever this, that, and the other what was going on. Thank you to Miss Robin who took care of me in that area. I also was transported to Grady, but I'm going through identity theft. Grady had me listed before I walked out of that hospital at 11:00. Five names. >> Five. I'm just one person. I'm I'm really just trying to just be me. All I'm standing here to say to you now is that now I have a case against this city. Didn't want it, but God gave it to me. But I'm hurt. I go to chiropractor. I had this thing on my neck. Um, I got this big old bruise on my head, a big old knot as they call it. It went across my shoulder and my back. I'm still able to move around, but it's just sad. Please fix that. Or put it back and it placed the right mechanism to hold it down. It was not stationed. Thank you so much. Next is Lauron or Lone McGee. >> Lon. >> Lronone, you are up. Right. >> Lero McGee, volunteer activist, founder of From Me Unto. Okay. I'm here today concerning the uh what's that? The reserve on Hollywood. A reserve at Hollywood. apartments. Uh due to a flood that happened on August the 25th, a building in the apartment complex, I believe was the B building had uh withstanded some water damage and instead of them fixing it last week, they told the tenants in that building that they had to um uh be evicted or had to leave in two weeks. So, what I'm asking you, it's in your district, uh Council Member Hillis. So, what I'm asking if you could send someone down there, you know, for some aid and a little education on the Georgia landlord laws um for the um the management. Thank you so much. >> And you stated, just to be clear, the reserves of Hollywood and it's the B building. >> Yeah, the reserves of Hollywood. You said they got two weeks to be out. >> Understood. I'll look into that. Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. >> Next is Nikki Buds. Have two minutes. All right. Good afternoon. So, let's let's just speak frankly. Um, I had the opportunity to visit a condominium association um in Buckhead. The building was very similar to the Landmark condominium downtown. The security system to punch into the building to have someone buzz you in was exactly the same. The building is beautifully kept. They have security. The building is wellmaintained. The landmark is not. And what's happening with with the Lamar condominium is that we're having deliberate distressment of the building. So this weekend we have three elevators. None of the elevators were working. None of them. We have 22 floors. Therefore, if there's anyone that does not have the ability to travel up and down the stairs readily, then they they were trapped in their homes. And if there was an emergency this weekend, then we all surely would have died or something awful would have happened and those people would not have made it out. That is the truth of it. It's similar to the January 17th fire that took place in 2024. We could have died had there not been a fire truck across the street. That's where we are. So now these um predatory property investors are wearing t-shirts, red t-shirts, stating our landmark. So they're taking over the building. They're now proclaiming it as theirs. And I have been at this run. Thank you. For four years, two months, and we're still talking about the same thing. A $30,000 security system that they alleged to put in is defunct. the city can limit certain things, strengthen enforcement, um push elder and senior and tenant. You can push support for that. As I stated, if anything happens to me, I get sick, I die, I become incapacitated. You know, it's the type of people that we're dealing with. You have it all in your email. You have the evidence. We're residents. We're homeowners. We're your constituents. The guest coming in from the stitch time expire. >> It is the guest coming in. >> Next up is Costco Jones. >> The guest not. >> You have four minutes. >> Mr. Jones, you have four minutes. Good afternoon, council. You You know, it's funny. Uh basically, everyone that's up here that has done public comment has already come and done public comment and they're talking about the same issues. The north remembers this is Game of Thrones, right? The North remembers. Um Atlanta is a city of neighborhoods and those neighborhoods are changing faster than ever. Over the past 40 years, we've lost 42% of our majority black neighborhoods with families pushed out by project projects that didn't prioritize them or their future. Uh what's making things even harder today is the role of the big out ofstate corporations, corporate investors now own about 30% of metro Atlanta's single family rental homes. and and some recent years, uh, they bought up the bought up the rent more than 40% on the on the market in certain areas. Um, 10 times more than the national average. Uh, Georgia State University found that a handful of companies now own and control tens of thousands of homes that used to be owned by local families. Meanwhile, over 88 um 8,800 homes were sold in Atlanta last year. E sale is a turning point for a family, a block in a community. Too often these homes are snatch snatched up for cash by investors, not residents looking to, you know, age in place. Uh we need to make sure that families, especially long time long-term Atlanta families, these legacy residents are not priced out of their homes by rising um by rising costs. Right now, the average Atlanta household spends up to 19% of their uh monthly income on utility bills. that's just too high. One solution is to require a simple energy audit uh before the home is sold. Think of it as a checkup for your new home. It shows where the where the house is losing money, what upgrades would make it more comfortable and more affordable. Cities like Portland, Minneapolis, uh Austin, Texas already do this. research and um including a major review published by the University of Illinois at Chicago shows that these policies cut bills by up to 20% and boost home values for the long haul. Um but let's go further uh with the 1.5 billion in um reinvestment flowing into Atlanta. Um money should help the neighborhoods like Dixie Hills. um coun councilman Amos. We spoke on uh you know the the Anderson Park thing and um you know it's opportunities here basically to help people uh get trained up. We have the resources here in the city. Um we just we just had this announcement for the TAD dollars. We we shouldn't be investing those TAD dollars into dilapidated properties without optimizing them from energy perspective. That's just good business as far as the overhead of the building. Um, let's let's learn from what works like energy audit and disclosure policies reviewed by the Institute for Market Transformation and the Atlanta Regional Commission. Let's keep Atlanta neighborhoods diverse and affordable. Let's make sure that the public investment benefits locals, not just outside uh cor um corporations. Most importantly, let's give uh all families the tools they need to save money, build wealth, and stay in their rooted neighborhoods. Early voting starts next week. Everybody's not an incumbent. Um, changes can happen. I I do sit on three boards, but I'm done. [Music] Next is Lonnie or Looney White. >> Due to allocated time, you have 10 minutes. >> Good morning. My name is Lonnie Joseph White IVth and I go by ThinkP tribe online. I'm a public library worker, 21 years old in the Dicab County Public Library system and a senior sociology student at Morehouse College, class of 2026. I was supposed to be at Atlanta City Hall on that stage today to represent the higher education and prisons program centered at Morehouse College in the Andrew Young Center. Respectfully, I'm at city hall today for a different reason. Cornelius Taylor was crushed to death by the city of Atlanta on January 16th, 2025 by way of a bulldozer trying to push away homeless encampments for an MLK day celebration. I'm going repeat that. An MLK day celebration. The city of Atlanta didn't check under the tents before moving them because they lack any empathy for the impoverished people of Atlanta who just so happen to be 80% black. What does this say about the black bgeoisi class? What would E Franklin Frasier say about this? Well, good thing for us, we already have the answer. Quote, when the opportunity has been present, the black bgeoisi has exploited the negro masses as ruthlessly as have whites. As the intellectual leaders in the Negro community, they have never dared think beyond a narrow opportunistic philosophy that provided a rationalization for their own advantages. All this to say, the fact that Andre Dickens and the city of Atlanta have not been held responsible for this is a damn shame. And we must see what they are trying to pull by having us me come to city hall. They are engaging in performative activism by using us as props, as backdrops to prove that they're making a difference in the community by supporting our higher education and prisons program when the opposite is true. We must also consider that this is the same city council and mayor of Atlanta have straight up ignored us working-class natives of the Atlanta/ metro Atlanta area with the COP city project. They have even gone out of their way to ignore a grassroots petition to put Cop City on the ballot so us citizens can vote on if we want a cop city in our backyards or if we don't want a cop city in our backyards. Mind you, this is the same class of black people who rightfully complained about voter tampering concerning Stacy Abrams run for the Georgia governor and have done the exact same thing to us. Here's a quote from Frederick Douglas's 1852 speech. What to the slave is the 4th of July? The negro is placed in a predicament where if he exerts himself, he is damned. And if he acquises, he is damned. They have removed our voice from the democratic process. And let's be clear, the city council and the mayor of Atlanta have shown us Atlanta natives, they will set up fascist infrastructure through creating through crafting a militarized cop city in Dicap County while simultaneously destroying the wildlife and indigenous importance of the Wulani forest. Also, this fascist infrastructure will be federally used by Trump when he brings ice to our areas with the help of Governor Kemp. We've already seen a glimpse of this with the Hyundai plant raid and how our neighbors have been terrorized by ICE in this very state. To root this in something historical, this is similar to President Barack Hussein Obama appointing Tom Hman as the Immigration and Customs Enforcements Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Remove Operations in 2013. Journalists have described Tom Holman as the intellectual father of the policy which separates children from their caregivers, which he outlined years before it was adopted by the Trump administration. In 2015, Obama awarded him awarded Tom H. Homeman with a presidential rank award as a distinguished executive for being really good at separating children from their caregivers. I say all this to say, the infrastructure he set up with Obama was used by Trump to increase far-right accelerationist policies on immigration that Tom Holman contributed to in the project 2025 document. What we have here is the black bgeoisi class setting up fascist infrastructure for people like Trump to use later on down the line. And that is exactly what will happen to Atlanta and the state of Georgia when ICE is federally brought down here again with the help of George of Governor Kemp. When my manager for the Andrew Young Center High Education and Prisons Program told our cohort to put on the Respectability Act and show up in a meeting last week, I ignored it and wasn't going to show up. To be fair, they did tell us this so that we wouldn't wear sweatpants to city hall, which is understandable. But as I was notified about this rally for Cornelius Taylor, I would like to say this today. I am here today for Cornelius Taylor instead of being used as propaganda for future mayoral and/political runs. As a black man from the Stone Mountain area, I know exactly what propaganda looks like. I grew up 10 minutes away from the largest Confederate memorial in the world. Let me repeat, not in Georgia, not in the United States, the entire world. At four to five years old, from the years of 2008 to to 2009, I had to learn about the rebirth of the Ku Klutz clan on the mountain I love climbing on and how the Daughters of the Confederacy created this carving by way of Confederate whitewashing. I empirically understand through my lived experience and critical research on the subject that we must root our understandings of what exactly has been happening in the city over the past 5 years and what people like Andre Dickens and the city council have shown all of us. We must not allow Morehouse College or the legacy of MLK to go against the principles of standing up for what's right, especially in the absence of a voice in the democratic process. You can stand with natives like me or not. However, it's times like this where I love to go back to Morehouse's tagline/mission statement. The decision you make to stand with us or stand against us will determine if you're a man of consequence or a man of subservience. Put Cop City on the ballot and to Andre Dickens and the city council specifically. Hear me clearly. Stop retreating into your black bgeoisi tendencies and listen to the working-class people of this city for once in your lives. We will always hold you accountable for the death of Cornelius Taylor and how you have contributed to the dehumanization of impoverished people in this city. Shame on you and repent for your actions when you go to church on Sunday cuz the Lord would not cosign what you all have done to the working people of Atlanta. Thank you Ash. [Applause] >> And then you spelled my name wrong. What the world? Good lord. Lonnie Joseph White IVth. L O N I E J O S E P H W H I T E. The one more numerals one and five. Four. Get my name right. What's wrong with y'all? >> Next is Shaquira Bradley. >> How y'all doing? >> Bless the highly favor. My name is Shakira Bradley. Today I'm here for Car. Tomorrow I'll be here for myself. The injustice in Georgia is just insane. They so busy. fame for power at the top from the government from the government courouses housing authority the federal age and all police department it's no say so for the people who suffering the injustice so they think the same people who supposed to protect us and fight for our rights are the same exact people who made the same system to target confuse deceive us and that's a crime shame and disgrace to the people who suffer in the system I've been at the center of a worldwide conspiracy for the last five years every for the last five years and y'all very lawmakers helping them write them laws concerning me. They did. Y'all didn't expect me to survive, but I'm here in your face. And I'mma fight for my rights and West Mines. All my inheritance and bank accounts were trafficking through y'all same 14 county system. Y'all had a whole trial in 2022 about everything that I own. Y'all got this. Y'all got your own City of Atlanta attorneys on everything of mine from from um Andre Dickens, Brian Kimp, now everybody lost. Y'all going to face me and give me what what's mine. I'mma put up a fight and I won't stop. We going to keep going. And if y'all knew what I knew to stop what's going on anywhere, y'all will release everything that belong to me. Y'all know who my father is. The god. Let's move on. Patrick Lebot, Governor Kemp, and Andre Dickens. name on every last one of my documents. They think they the successors on the air. Ain't none of them the successors and nobody going to be bound to nothing I got going on in the future. >> Have a good one. >> Next is Frank both. You have four minutes due to allocated time. Good afternoon. Uh, my name is Frank Bove. I'm a retired CDC epidemiologist. Homelessness in Atlanta continues to rise, driven by an affordable housing shortage, exorbitant rents, and an eviction crisis. A recent city survey identified nearly 3,000 people who are either unsheltered or living in emergency shelters with minimal services. Family homelessness has surged 14% over the past year, and most of these families are living in temporary emergency shelters. The city is planning to house and provide services to 400 homeless people ahead of the summer 2026 FIFA World Cup. The effort, dubbed Downtown Rising, aims to eliminate visible homelessness downtown before the event. However, inconsistencies and delays in providing wraparound services to individuals from the old Wheat Street encampment cast serious doubt on the city's capacity to meet that goal. Now, Atlanta has been down this road before. During the 1996 Summer Olympics, the city arrested unhoused individuals and created no vagrancy zones. There is growing concern that the leadup to the World Cup could again result in criminalization of homelessness. homelessness, including potential incarceration of people in the Fulton County jail for refusing to leave downtown encampments. So, what's the solution? Well, eviction without stable housing is definitely not a solution. It is violence. Forced encampment clearings are inhumane and ineffective. Displacing people, destroying their belongings, sending them to temporary shelters that feel unsafe or dehum dehumanizing only deepens trauma. Providing stable housing with services is far cheaper than endlessly cycling people through forced evictions, temporary shelters, emergency rooms only to be pushed back onto the streets. Guaranteed permanent housing with wraparound services in place such as meals, transportation, mental health care, addiction support, employment assistance, and case management must be secured before any relocation. Second, long-term dedicated funding is needed to provide permanent housing and comprehensive wraparound services for the old Weed Street residents and the thousands of people still struggling to survive on the streets. Third, it is important for agencies such as the Partners for Home to partner with the homeless to work collaboratively at with advocacy organizations like the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition and engage directly with those experiencing homelessness. Homeless individuals must be part of the decisionmaking process. Effective solutions are built with people, not for them. The memory of Cornelius Taylor and the needs of thousands still unhosed demand a compassionate, humane, and sustained housing first response, not a temporary fix driven by the glare of international attention. Addressing homelessness shouldn't require a global sports event to generate urgency and political will. Thank you. [Applause] Next is Cat Leatherwood. >> My name is Cat Leatherwood. Uh I am a resident in East Atlanta and I am a proud member of the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition. Um, I've also been a proud member of the People's Campaign to Stop Cop City. And I wanted to say that out loud just to make just to remind y'all that we're still here. Um, that is how I became a part of the coalition for Cornelius Taylor. And I think through those issues and this current issue, um, I've become very tired of broken promises. And that's assuming that these promises were even sincere in the first place, which I have my doubts. You promised a referendum on Cot City. Those signatures are collecting dust. It's direct democracy sitting in a dark room. You promised the training facility would make Atlanta police officers and policing safer. And yet I see Valerie Anderson here requesting that the man who murdered her son not work for the city of Atlanta. Got a paid year's vacation. It's it's insane. And after Cornelius Taylor was crushed to death by a bulldozer, as uh a wise man says, by driven by the policies of the city, there were promises made to the people who lived in that encampment. And those promises are not being met. They are not getting the wraparound services they were promised. When we showed up, the beds were not available. It's, you know, I know that we keep getting told it's hard, but I see us building a $1 billion jail. No problem. Atlanta Police Foundation needs $30 million, you will ignore 17 hours of public comment to make it happen. So I would just ask that as we remind you all to follow through on what's promised to the actual citizens, not people visiting for a couple weeks for the World Cup, people who live here to make sure that we have housing, that the promises for the wraparound services for the residents of Old Weed Street are brought through or, you know, brought to fruition, that they get food and they get access, and that we rename Old Weed Street Cornelius Taylor Street. Thank you. Next is Chio Perry. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> I'm Chio Perry and I vote in council district 1. Real simple. 1996 I was youthful. 33 years old. Fast forward 2026, I still feel that youthful vibration. I'll be 63 when 2026 rolls around for that world party. So, it's nothing we hadn't lived through or seen, huh? I'm often reminded walking through farly popular district, popular district, Atlanta's not perfect. However, Atlanta's been the perfect home for me. So, I've enjoyed everything that actually happened here today and has been stated, but I need you to take heed or take note to the feelings of our youth because since 1863, 4 years before Morehouse opened its doors and uh America's other favorite H.B.C.U., you know, there was a youth movement and then subsequent other youth movements. So the the word I like to describe or use is tsunami. You're at the brink of a youthful tsunami. Why? Because seemingly there's a choice. You won't partner with youth. You won't partner with all of those who need to have their human dignity and and respect adhered to. and you simply choose to partner with some of the most crulest, inhumane people that's been birthed in this millennium. Shame Atlanta next is Teresa Cheney. Good afternoon to everyone in the room. I am Latrice Cheney and not only am I here as an organizer, a tenant organizer with Housing Justice League, I'm here as a long-term resident of Atlanta, Georgia. My family and I was displaced five years ago out of the um um Forest Cove, which is known as the Four Season uh to long-term residents in Atlanta. And um I'm here also with the Cornelius Taylor Coalition as to in support of wraparound services and permanent housing for our homelessness, you know. our homeless residents in downtown Atlanta. Please stop in please stop wasting tax dollars money by locking up the residents for being homeless. Um I'm also charging you each district to in support of rent stabilization. That was the form of what me and my family was displaced out of. As well as, you know, um, millennia coming in promising that they would not displace our families, but yet 500 more families about to be put on the street. I'm in support of rent stabilization. I'm in support of stop decriminal stop criminalizing and locking up homelessness. I'm in support of state bill uh the housing act like just making sure that our homes are safe for our families to live in as well as if we're going to be charged rent base it on our income not the rising rents of the housing market. It's just unfair and you also need to raise our labor wages as well. Thank you. Next is Margie Mloud. [Music] >> Love money. [Music] The reason why I'm here, Mayor Jackson, 1974 to 1982, we had one city. Mayor, you talking about two city when I'm saying shame on you. Took two years. Two years homeless children taken away from them and put them in foster care is because rent going up. But you had the tad money. Hey, tad money. And now you're going to say you got 15,000 billion, the tag. Why are you going to do this now when you had the money all the time? You had tag money. You could have stopped all this homelessness. You could have stopped people freezing to death. People had died out there. Mayor, I've been out there and I know Jesse Lee been out here also. But now the World Cup election time tab people city council tell your district what the tab money is all about. They ain't just got here. You ain't just extending. I'm glad you sending the tan money to Southwest cuz Southwest ain't have no business looking like this because when I love Mayor Jackson because we have one city, we didn't have two city. So I say I want a task force on TAD. We need to monitor that $15,000 billion dollars. We need to monitor to see where it's going at because the vessel Atlanta and all the development and next thing we know we'll be broke. So tab money always two years. It took you two years that you're going to say you're going to stand. You had the money all the time. That's why I say the love of money is what? A love of money is not about the people. It's about the money. And that's what I say. Miss Mar, you've been coming out here for two years. You have to put the cap on the rent. >> You ran on that. >> So please, >> I know you have to do it at the capital, but we got to do what? We got to do better what y'all doing. Not just because election time come the World Cup. Oh, I'm standing the tab money on Southwest side. You had the money all the time. >> Next up is Damen Harper. Good evening, council members. Good evening to you. Uh we the people in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and ensure tranquility to ourselves and our prosperity. That is the beginning of this Constitution of the United States. And if you forget, I'm sure the coalition today is going to remind you that on January 16th, a man was killed. That man's name was Cornelius Taylor. And Cornelius was homeless. Why? Not because he had a problem. Because you have a problem. because it is incredibly incredibly hard to economically exist in this city. Yet the human spirit is determined and attached to life and the love which life brings. Despite the worst conditions, Cornelius chose life only to be killed not by his peers, not even by hate, but by the state, by the city. because you have a problem. This city killed a citizen, not a death row inmate. It widowed a woman and removed her rock of emotion, support, and love because you have a problem. This civil framework this city has in place should be designed to help us prosper and pursue happiness. But that framework failed him not once, but twice. First, it paved over his road to opportunity. Next, it paved over him and his only housing with a bulldozer. This city owes human dignity to Cornelius. The reason I don't wear a watch, it's because the time is and always will be right now. Thank you so much, council. Next, next up is Sandra Lee Williams. Good afternoon, honorable council members. I am Sandra Lee Williams, president of the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council. And along with me there are several of our labor members. But I'm here today to request support for the WNBA team, the Atlanta Dream. They are currently our team. They made it to the playoffs and these players know their value. We see them every night. They are a product. We buy tickets. We buy jerseys. We tune in to see them to watch the best talent on the planet leave everything that they have on the court. But the WNBA, the league, doesn't seem to understand their value. They're dragging their feet on a new collective bargaining agreement and dismissing or silencing calls for real and deserved change. Higher salaries based on growth of the business and professional standards and working conditions and real real investment in the future and legacy of the women that play on that team. It's time for leadership to meet this moment. The league can show it understands the value of the players by committing to a transformative collective bargaining agreement. One that pays players what they deserve and invest in what actually grows this league and protects our health and safety. While the season is over, the negotiations are not. I'm asking for your support today and for you to protect the future of women's basketball, particularly in our great city of Atlanta. Please join me in the support of the Atlanta Dream Team. Thank you. [Applause] Next is Willie Jackson. Due to allocated time, you'll have four minutes. Hello everyone. and I'm Willie Jackson. I'm a resident at the welcome house and I'm a member of the community t coalition. I stand here today to ask each and every one of you listen to our voices. Help us with the wraparound service. Hold accountability to your word. Keep us going strong. Keep the city going strong. Help those in need and help myself as well because I'm one of those that in need. And we hope that and I hope that everybody stick to their word. Everybody that is encampment, those that not encampment sleep on the side of the curb, sleep in a hole somewhere, reach out to help them just so well someone help myself. And I hope all of us as we people can be the people to help the people in this struggle here in Atlanta. And I thank you very much. Thank you. Next is Reverend Washington. Somebody's documenting here. after being approved to open a funeral home by the Homeland Security and the FDLE, after four different sheriff deputies, uh, excuse me, four different sheriffs of metropolitan Atlanta on many different occasions along with the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia and Hillary Clinton of the um, the former um, first lady of the United States all interacted with me. It brought to mind something that someone said, "Why is the harassment of APD after you?" Well, I brought to mind this. the reverse psychology and the reverse roles of fabrication. Commanders of APD to Ali make me the asalent and lies to the public after David Hollowman of the Atlanta Police Department who made inconsistent statements to the Atlanta Citizen Review Board who sustained my complaint for false imprisonment and excessive force by and through attempted murder. by through by and through the false imprisonment and excessive force. It was reminded of me, city council members, that after understanding that the late Malcolm X, who made this statement to black America, black America understand this assertion that the Constitution of these United States or in this case, the Atlanta Police Department is still dehumanizing people of color. It only sees us as three fifths of a man. I'm viewed a steal as a plantation from running from the master. The truth be told, the reason why the Atlanta Police Department have been after me is because of lies, fabrication, and slander. In the law, it says slander, defamation, and liable. Thank you. Next is Devin Franklin. Due to allocated time, he helps six minutes. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, council. My name, for those who are not aware, is Devon Franklin. I am senior movement policy counsel for the Southern Center for Human Rights. Certainly came here today to speak to certain issues, but a few things have caught my attention that I feel the need to kind of work into um what I came to say. And honestly, it's rare that I have the opportunity to show the connection between so many of the things that I come before this body to advocate for. First things first to the coalition that is here in support of Cornelius Taylor. I stand with you all. Um I'm grateful for their continued advocacy um and holding his name high and continuing to try to hold the city of Atlanta accountable for his death. I am reminded, however, um by one of the requests that the coalition has made for the city to truly fund wraparound services that when I first came before this body in my when I first came to the Southern Center for Human Rights, I spoke to you all about a policing violence project and a number of recommendations that we submitted to you all about how to make policing safer in the city of Atlanta and how to ensure that those in need are able to reach those things. And one of those recommendations of the seven was in fact to provide wraparound services for individuals who were experiencing homelessness. I'm also reminded um again this policing violence project that I first worked on when I first got to Southern Center. Um Miss Boom when you were uh giving the honor to the folks from Morehouse today um for their work with uh incarcerated people um being able to take get college degrees, you made a comment, incarceration is not an equal opportunity punishment given that black Americans are arrested at more than five times the rates of white Americans. Not sure if anyone in this room is aware, but the city of Atlanta actually exceeds that rape in a horrible way. According to the police scorecard, the city of Atlanta um arrests more people for low-level nonviolent offenses than 85% of police departments in the United States of America. And of those low-level nonviolent offenses, black folks in Atlanta are 8.9 times more likely to be arrested for low-level nonviolent offenses. Um, all of that is relevant because the thing that I really came here to speak to you all today is about the Fton County Jail, the lease of ACDC that you all have uh consented to and the impact of overcrowding which of course is fueled by um disparit policing, over policing, over incarceration for low-level nonviolent offenses. Quote, we met with him and I just felt negligence from him. He wasn't sincere. He wasn't say he wasn't sorry. Those are the words of Tyrone Bernie. She is the sister of Tyrion Led Better. Uh Tiana Led Better uh was a 20-year-old woman who was who is now currently on life support at Grady Hospital after being the victim of an assault by a woman with whom she was sailed with at the Fulton County Jail. The quote that I read to you from Miss Barney is her uh thoughts about Fton County Sheriff, your business partner, Patrick Labot, um after he came to the Fton came to the jail to meet with the uh I'm sorry, to the hospital to meet with the family after um Miss Lebet had been placed on life support. We know that in November of 2024, the United States Department of Justice published a scathing report after a 16-month investigation into the Fton County Jail. And that that 97page report detailed to authorities that the jail failed to protect people incarcerated against uh violence from other incarcerated people. What we also know is that Miss Lab better particularly had cognitive disabilities and mental health issues and that she read on likely a sixth grade level. That's what's stated by her mother. We know that she had at least three court dates prior to her injuries um and that they were reset because her court appointed attorney did not show. We know that the woman with whom she is accused of um being injured by that that woman is currently char was originally charged with shoplifting and drug possession. divertable charges where she would not have been in custody had proper use of the diversion center or uh pad been made use. What I'm saying to you is there are avoidable consequences to the actions that you all take. We know uh from the what's been published that Miss Leb better was found unconscious and stuffed underneath a bed at the Fton County Jail and that her cellmate had effectively been able to trick the deputies into thinking that Miss Leb better was okay because she came to the door and answered for her. That's not proper supervision. That is who you all have tasked with taking over your building. We know that Miss Leb better was in an observation unit because of her mental health condition and that she was in a mental health observation unit alongside another person in a cell that only had one bed. That is not just that is not safe. That is not competent supervision by someone who was tasked with such. We understand that the assault happened on September 22nd and that the mother wasn't notified until September 25th. We know that there is video surveillance that suggests that the fight had occur the fight that injured her had occurred several months before. I mean several hours before and so that again the lack of supervision not the condition of the building not the decrepit walls but the fact that you don't have caretakers who value the lives of those who are in custody that they were not able to keep this woman safe is what is being met here. So, I'm going to wrap up today, but I do want you to know that there is still a resolution that is pending before the public safety committee. Resolution uh 25R 3289 that calls for the state's withdrawal of Fton County from the Atlanta City Detention Center. This is something that you all should have voted on a long time ago. I'm asking that at the next public safety committee to be held next week that you go ahead and hold that vote because I will be back here on the 20th to ask that this full council make a vote on it regardless regardless of whatever the recommendation is because the time is now for you all to divorce yourselves from the corruptness that is Fton County. Thank you. Next is Allan Hall. Due to allocated time, you'll have 10 minutes. Uh, good afternoon, council members. Uh, my name is Alan Hall. I am the survivor from the old way street homeless encampment. I am here today to speak to you on behalf of Kas Taylor, who was tragically killed on January the 16th by a city employee who drove a front loader truck weighing five tons to the old street homeless encampment and into the tent where Ka's table was sleeping, crushing him to death. Kneel was asleep. unaware of what was unfolding. It was only after people started screaming did the front load of trucks stopped moving, but it was too late. The autopsy report released 10 days later found he had died of blunt force trauma. His spleen and his liver had been lacerated. his pelvis cracked in half. Atlanta Mayor Andrew Dickens and other city officials did not respond to the request for comment. The old street homeless survivors to this day still grieve and carried the trauma of the loss of Kenneth who was a friend, a neighbor, and a family member to us. After Cornelia's death, the city made promises but did not follow through. We are calling on the city of Atlanta to change its approach to to encampment evictions. Policies that focus on getting homeless people out of sight is not a solution. It's violence. What killed Conne Taylor was not a guy driving a front loader. It was years a bad policy driving that thing. We called on the city of Atlanta to take a humane approach. Housing First has been proved to be the most effective approach to homelessness with wraparound services so homeless people can build a path to long-term stability and dignity. Cornelius Taylor's life mattered. What happened to Cornelius Taylor must never happen again. Thank you. Next is Tim Franson. Hey y'all. >> Sorry, Mr. Fran. Just one second. Sorry. Council member VI wanted I apologize. >> Sorry. Sorry, Tim. I wanted to thank you, Mr. Hall, for coming up and speaking. And I but I did want to say one thing. I don't want people here thinking the city didn't do anything. Like I understand I am part of a system and we get grouped together. I was at that vigil. I was out there the next day. I spoke. I sat with the family. I held up Cornelius's photo and was punished for it. And so, like, I don't want you to think that there's nobody here that cares. That's why I fought so hard to start a case manager program because I believe in wraparound services and I've known that corridor since I was a baby. But I don't want you to think that there's no one up here that cares or that council didn't respond because I did. I did. And so, I just want you all to know because you're hearing about all the things we've done wrong. We have tons of stuff to improve on, right? The system is not broken. It's not designed to help people. It's designed for asset protection. That's real. But I don't want you to think for one minute that there was nobody up here that didn't care. and our our actions were I cannot speak in I cannot speak in defense of any of it. You are thousand% correct and I thank you so much for coming down here and telling us what you had going on and for living on that street and for sharing. Thank you. But I don't want any of you to think for two seconds that there was nobody up here that cared. So I just I just really needed to say that. >> Thank you, council member. And sorry again, Mr. President. Please proceed. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um yeah. Uh so Tim, my name is Tim Franen. Uh I want to make sure that folks um get a copy of this petition that has been developed um with a lot of the residents from Old Wheat Street. Here I have the copy which I'll set right here for everybody to have one. And then this is the actual signature count which actually as we've been sitting in here there's been an additional four or 500 people that have signed this online petition. And this really spells out. Thank you to those people. I think y'all should sign it too. And uh you know Lil Council person Bakiari, I hear you. >> Tim, you've known me since I was 18 years old. And and >> I know a lot of y'all up here. I know uh Council Person Bond, at one point when I was a young man, your office reached out to a movement I was involved with and really wanted to to help out. I always appreciate that. And Council Person Boon, uh when Vincent Fort was laid to rest, you held my hand walking in to view his body and that was just meant a lot to me. Um, Council Person Doer, we've fought in the, you know, uh, around issues before you were before you decided to run. And so, I don't look at y'all as just a bunch of random people that I came here to yell at. I know that before you're council people, you're human beings, you your husbands, your your, you know, parents. And uh but um I'm telling you today that a lot of the promises that were made to to me looking eye to eye with city workers with uh have been broken and um folks are not getting the services that they were promised. Uh we were forced to move on this unrealistic timeline and move people into a place where there was no case management. Now they have a case manager, but they're still not being fed. And so I'm asking you to take these demands seriously. Um, you all know my number. Let's fix this. I know we can do it together. Thank you. >> Next is Matthew Nury. >> All right. Thank you, council. My name is Matthew Nury. I'm an organizer with the Housing Justice League. First thing I want to say is we're going to be honoring Delta. Um, you know, there are uh, uh, flight attendants and ramp workers that are currently trying to unionize at Delta and they're being union busted against. So, you all can speak out in support of those workers anytime. So, I'm here today for the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition. The Housing Justice League has been working uh, with the community on a 9-point policy platform. Thank you to the council members who have reached out. Um, council member Amos, Boxiari, Doer. Um, so thank you to the ones who have reached out with interest on the uh, package. Um, so let's just walk through a little bit of what we've had to deal with um, in trying to get the the mayor's office in the city to do the right thing on Old Wheat Street. So the first thing is you know um getting them to uh stop the sweeps and start a task force which by the way the task force was a complete joke. Uh partners for home and you know people who rely on partners for home were in complete control of the of what was discussed in uh you know what what was um allowed to be envisioned in those spaces. Uh you know the sweeps never really happened. Uh they broke the moratorum. Um they kept sweeping Prior Street even before the task force was done ending. You know, we try to get folks housed. Um they said the city says they don't have anywhere to house folks. Bull crap. I mean that is not on us. That's your job. Y'all get the reports, the numbers. The mayor knows we need at least 80,000 units by 2030 to even put a dent in the housing gap. The 20,000 is not enough. And you know, like you're spend it's been said before, you're spending a third of the budget on police. we have money. We need a city that will stand up and a mayor that will stand up for uh you know the unhoused and renters and the working class while that the federal funding and the state funding is being taken away from us. We need you to step in. The wraparound services have not been delivered. Uh transportation, health care, food, uh job training and placement. This is all stuff that the city can help with. And thank you to the council people who have helped. This is more directed towards the mayor and the city and his staff. Thank you. Next up is Jonathan Holly. Good afternoon. If you made a mistake that resulted in someone's death, what would it take for you to clear your conscience? For most, no outpouring of sorrow nor compassion could ever be enough. Death weighs heavily on the human soul. The city government must grow a conscience because it has taken Cornelius Taylor's life. You owe a moral debt to his loved ones, especially and specifically his fiance, Lolita Griffith, who is here in the audience today. She is watching your response to these demands. First, fund the programs in the continuum of care. The conditions in Welcome House are not hygienic and not safe. Housing without funding is not enough. Many of you already know this and have already spoken up about it in response to previous comments, and I thank those of you who are our allies in this. Second, commit to stopping all homeless sweeps. The World Cup is not worth another person's death, obviously. And third, lest future citizens and future governments forget this shameful chapter in our city's story, rename Old Wheat Street to Cornelius Taylor Street. And don't you dare do that third one without the first two. We will hold a vigil on Old Wheat Street this Wednesday, October 8th, at 7 p.m. to remember Cornelius Taylor on what would have been his birthday. No, thank you. I'm not finished yet. Everyone in this audience is invited to our vigil. I'll say it again. October 8th, 700 p.m. on Old Weed Street, the sight of his death. I appeal to each of your human conscious consciences. Do not let Cornelius Taylor die in vain. Thank you. [Applause] Next is Ary Parker. Good afternoon everyone. My name is Ari Parker. Um I'm actually here in support of the coalition for Cornelius Taylor. Um, I'm just here to speak from the heart, honestly. Like, I had nothing written down in preparation, but I am part of the community here in the third district. And I do a lot of volunteer work, which is feeding homeless people or helping with whatever advocacy I can help with or just helping my community however I can. But as I do that help, I see a lot of people, including people from my own personal community, which I lay in an intersection of communities. Not only am I black, I'm indigenous. Not only that, I'm queer and I'm trans. It's hard to stomach when I see people that I call my friends end up on the streets. and some of my friends were part of Wheat Street. I didn't really know this until the sweep happened and started seeing them turn up. What happened to Cornelius Taylor could have very well been one of my friends, one of our friends, some of your family members, and it could have been me cuz at one point in my life when I was only 18 years old, for a very short amount of time, I was homeless. I had nowhere to go, no friends or family around until I came to Georgia. Georgia has been my home. And just like everyone else in this room, it's their home. But I would love to see sweep stop. I would love to see rapid wraparound services continue. I would like to see more opportunities for people to be fed and feel safe and have somewhere to be. That's not places that are only temporary. [Music] And just the final thing on my way here I was thinking about what is the insignia of Atlanta which is us Phoenix. Phoenix's live and they die out and come back again. And that flame isn't just the bird. It's all of us. And no flame is irrelevant. And as my mom used to say, no person is above any other person and no flame is more important than another flame. And we should all shine and burn together and stop making one person's wants and needs more important than the needs of many. >> Thank you. Your time is expired. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Next is Peter Friedrich. Atlanta brands herself as a spiritual home of America's civil rights movement and an international city that proudly embraces the motto the city too busy to hate. Yet, even as Atlanta champions these values, questions arise about whether it is adequately vetting official associations or potentially partnering with hate groups. Twice in the past two years, Atlanta's mayor headlined events hosted with an outfit called Kona, suggesting official partnership. Does association with groups at odds with Atlanta's civil rights legacy truly fit the city's values? Georgetown University reports that Kona is a Hindu right-wing advocacy organization known for targeting critics of Hindu nationalism and those who highlight the persecution of religious minorities, especially Muslims and Christians in India. Kona's endorsement of such actions is evident in statements by its speakers and leaders. For example, the group hosts hate speakers like Maduk Kishwar, who brazenly calls Islam a barbaric ideology that threatens the survival of the human race. While Kona's director of government relations has unapologetically labeled Islam as hate and bigotry and insisted that the largest Indian-American Muslim advocacy group must be eliminated. Kona consistently collaborates with other American Hindu nationalist groups like the HSS, VHA, and HIF. All of which promote the hardline Hindafata policies of India's ruling party. Ruckers explains that Hindafa is a transnational far-right ideology which is rooted in Hindu supremacy, undermines pluralism and encourages hate and violence against Christians, Muslim six and other minorities. Providing a platform to these networks is a slap in the face to Indian-American minorities as well as to critics of majoritarianism and supremacy. Atlanta stands on two core moral principles. Dr. King's belief that injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere and Congressman Lewis's call to get into good trouble for what is right. Guided by these principles, Atlanta should champion interfaith engagement and free speech. But following Lewis's example, we must also clearly condemn racist, bigoted, or hateful speech. Therefore, city leaders should publicly disavow groups identified as promoting supremacist ideology. The city of Atlanta must end partnerships with US-based Hindu nationalist organizations who promote exclusionary ideologies. instead seek to partner with Hindu and South Asian groups who support equality, religious freedom and disscent, uphold civil right civil rights legacy by practicing policies that embrace pluralism and not by associating with inda adv advocates who represent everything that the heroes of the civil rights movement fought against and have a report on this issue for every member of the council. Thank you. That does conclude the public comment section of our agenda today. I'd like to thank members of the public who provided comments to council. We'll now remove move on to the report of the journal. Madame clerk, >> good afternoon, Mr. President. >> Members of council, I, Karin Lindo, municipal clerk of the city of Atlanta, do hereby certify that the minutes of the regular meeting held on Monday, September 15, 2025 are true and correct. >> Is there a motion to approve? So moved by council member Juan, second by council member West Morland. We can adopt this by unanimous consent. Madame clerk 11 yay, zero nays. >> 11 yay, zero nays. Board of the journals approve. We'll move on to communications. Madam clerk, >> Mr. President, prom, if I may take items one and two as a block, >> please proceed. >> Number one is 25 C0114. This a communication from Andrea Welter, PhD, director of general education at Morehouse College, accepting service to the city of Atlanta reparations study commission. Item number two is 25 C0115. This is a communication for mayor Andre Dickens appointing Miss Katie Mhola to serve as a member of the municipal market company board of directors. This appointment is for a term of two years for both these items. Staff recommendation to refer to community development human services committee and committee on council. >> Let it follow that course. >> Item number three is 25 C 016. This is a communication from municipal clerk window submitting a report of administrative corrections made to previously adopted legislation between the regular council meeting dates of September 15, 2025 and October 6, 2025 to the Atlanta City Council in accordance with section 2-275 of the Atlanta City Code of Ordinances. This includes 251 1448, 251483, 25R 3525 and 251 1174 staff recommendation to accept and file. >> Follow that course. >> U Mr. uh President Proam if I may make a few announcement about the upcoming election. >> Yes ma'am. >> Um I just wanted to remind everyone that today um October 6th is the last day to register to vote um or make changes to your voter registration. As long as it's postmarked today, you should be fine. Um, also, early voting for the November 4th municipal election will begin next Tuesday, October 14th through Friday, October 31st. The Poland locations will be open um Friday, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, October 18th and the 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays, October 19th and 26th from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. There will also be a special election for Senate District 35. This will be held on Tuesday, November 18th, and early voting for this race will be held on October 27th through November 14th. Um, you can find all these polling uh locations on the city clerk's website as well as um the times the polls are open. I do remind everyone to please there were due to the city's redistricting, there may be some poll changes, Fulton County has mailed out updated voter registration cards to everyone, but we do remind you to please verify your voter information by visiting my voterpage.com. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Now moving on. consideration of vetoed legislation. >> Mr. Chair, I also wanted while she was talking about elections just to provide an update that just happened a few minutes while we were in session. >> Yes, ma'am. Please proceed. >> The um qualifications challenges to the two candidates were upheld by the court and the ballots will reflect will not reflect the names for either Keith Lewis or Sher Williams. >> Thank you for those updates. Moving on to consideration of veto legislation. Madam clerk, is there any veto legislation? >> There are none. >> Madam clerk, is there any unfinished business? >> There are none. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Moving on to the consent agenda. Does anyone have any items they need to remove from the consent agenda? Council member Winston. Yes, I have two items to remove from the consent agenda agenda on page eight, items two and three, which is 25-R38.99 and 25R3901. Thank you, council member. Any other items to remove from the consent agenda? Move approval of consent agenda section one by council member Juan. Is there a second? There's second by council member Amos. Please prepare the vote on consent agenda section one. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The votes closes. That's 12 ya, zero nays. >> 12, zero nays. Consent agenda section one is approved. Any items removed from consent agenda section two. I'll entertain a motion to approve. Coun council member one with a motion to approve. Is there a second? >> Motion to refer. >> Motion to refer. Sorry. Is there a second? Council member Doer with a second. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> Council member Collins, what is your vote? The vote's closed. 11 yay, zero nays. >> 11 yay, zero nays. Consent agenda section two is um approve referred, but council member West Morning, we're doing committees a little differently, >> uh today. So, I was I was going to I was going to uh let everyone know in addition to the announcement I made at the beginning of the meeting where we're going to take public safety and legal administration committee and transportation committee in Kenya of a whole, city utilities committee also has items that need to be uh dealt with in committee of a whole. So, we're going to do that last in committee of a whole. But to start, we're going to do public safety and legal administration committee. Uh, council member chairwoman Boon. >> Yeah. And we'll need to enter in committee of a hall. You'll make that motion. >> Yeah. >> Come back in. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro Tim. In order to conduct our legislative business, we will need to enter into the committee of the whole. I will make that motion. Second by the honorable Jason Doer. Please open the vote. >> Motion by council member Boone, second by council member Doer. Please open that vote. >> The vote is open. [Music] Miss Dory, what's your vote? >> The vote is closed. 13 yay and zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. We are now in committee of a whole. Councilwoman, Chairwoman Boon, >> I would like to acknowledge Mr. Terry Ross who is here today. Will you please come forward to address us about his reappoint to the license review board? Thank you. Mr. Ross, will you tell us a little bit about why you would like to continue this very important assignment? AB: >> Absolutely. >> Before Mr. Ross, I'm sorry. Would uh go ahead and read the legislation before he's >> communication by Mayor Andre Dickens reappointing Mr. Terry Ross to serve as a member of the license review board. This appointment is for a term of two years. >> All right, Mr. Ross. >> Yeah, my name is Terry Ross and I'm a resident of uh West End. My council member Jason Doure and I know some of you other council members as well whether we were in agreement or bumping heads. But anyway, it's good to see everyone and it's great to be seen. Yes, I' I'd like to serve again on the license re review board. I've been there since 2020. Um, the work came to me as I was chair of neighborhood planning unit T and we had some bad actors who had some alcohol licenses and needed to be dealt with and I felt like the work could be dealt with if I sat on the license review board. As a matter of fact, Councilman Amos, you were on the board when I first came on. That's right. And um and and you were my board of education representative at the time. You know, we're we're entwined here, y'all. But anyway, it it's this work is important to me. Um, and I sit with um passionate residents of the city of Atlanta on this board and you know, we we take things head on when it comes to underage drinking, when it comes to nightclubs being open after hours and exposing young people to overindulging in the things that can happen when that thing those kind of things go on. And so this is our way to to to combat this and try to make Atlanta a better city for everyone. >> Question. The honorable Alex Juan followed by Byron D. Amos. >> Um thank you >> Antonio Lewis. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I I am in full support of your appointment. I want to appreciate the times that I've watched the license reboard proceedings. I appreciate you are often the sole lone voice for the community um and representing the frustration sometimes and the and articulating the challenges that we do experience from bad actors. So I with your reappoint I hope you will continue in that vein um and continue to um support the city APD license and permits when they do bring due cause actions before um violators. I mean, there's no other way to put it, but again, I just wanted to thank you for your um voice. >> Thank you, Council Member Juan. That that means a lot to me. And um I've said it before publicly, I am unapologetically pro community. Um but I'm fair also. So, business does not have to be fearful of me. >> Council member Amos. >> Yeah. Just very quickly want to um just say kudos to you um continuously want to serve and also just to support what my colleague has already said. You have been that calm um voice, sturdy steady for the community but also understanding our business community as well. So just thank you and also bringing up the fact we've been on this road together. As you seek another term, I am too. So hopefully we'll get the same blessing. >> There you go. Thank Thank you, Councilman Amos. the office. >> Council member Lewis, Ju, >> just the same thing. Congratulations. Uh, we support you, but I I know want to want to make sure we're moving forward that we are also because I heard you say you talked about a lot of bad actors that were in your community, but I think we have a lot of folks that have lack information in our communities, too. Okay. >> And so, I want to make sure that we are informing folks about how they could get better >> rather than just making sure they're bad at it. cuz we know a lot of folks they need the information of the new laws that have changed and it will probably make them better community people if we give them the information instead of >> Absolutely. I I I agree 100%. Um you know one of my achievements here with the city is the design and implementation of the Atlanta community engagement playbook and it's basically a crash course on how how to up the civic engagement game and so those kind of things make a difference. Yes sir. >> If you don't know you don't know right. Yes sir. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. >> There's been a motion to approve by council member Amos and a second by council member Juan. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? The both close. That's >> 12. >> 13 yay, zero nay. >> 13, zero nays. Thank you, Mr. Ross. This will go to the committee on council, but you will not need to reappear in front of that committee nor the full council. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. Be in touch with you. >> Okay. C Councilwoman B. >> Can we have a motion to Thank you, Mr. Ross. We will next take action on our claims. Can we have a motion to approve the favorable claims? >> Motion by Council Member Lewis, second by Council Member Biari. Please prepare the vote on the favorable recommendations on claims. The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? Bye moment. You're welcome. Miss Norwood, what is your vote? >> Council member Collins, what is your vote? [Music] >> The vote's closed. That's 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. Those items are approved. >> Council member B. Can we have a motion to adverse the unfavorable claims? >> So move. So moved by council member one, second by council member Baktiari on the adverse of the unfavorable claims. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is up. >> Will everyone please vote? [Music] Mr. West Morland, what is your vote? >> I 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13's and zero nays. Those items are adverse. >> Mr. President, prom this brings us to our ordinances for first read. Item 125-0-1537, an ordinance by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to accept on behalf of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department a donation from the Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative of 1 2024 Ford F650 valued at approximately $121,8721. 1 cent to be accepted as of December 13, 2024 for special operations usage within the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department and for other purposes. Item 22 25-0-1538 and by public safety and legal administration committee amending the 2025 intergovernmental grant fund budget by adding to anticipations and appropriations in the amount of $8,290 [Music] on behalf of the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department for the purpose of funding the trauma related equipment grant program developed by the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department and for other purposes. Madam Mr. Proim, this brings us to our ordinance for second reading. Ordinance for second reading. First item 25-01516, an ordinance by public safety and legal administration committee to wave section 2-783H1 of the city of Atlanta code and ordinances to authorize the settlement of all claims against the defendants in the case of Paul Marie and Collins McGee ET civil action file number 22E00239 pending in the state court of Fulton County in the amount of $20,000 than 0 cents. The settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from 10001. Journal fund center number 20001 nonEP departmental account 52120005 litigation expenses and functional activity number 1512000 accounting and for other purposes. Motion to approve. Uh, Chairwoman Boon, if you These are all claims, so if we could take items 3 through 11 together, that would save us quite a bit of time. Okay. >> Item 425-01525. Ordinance by council member Andre El Boon authorizing the city attorney or her designate to execute a settlement statement on behalf of the city of Atlanta to resolve claims against [Music] take and the resolution. >> Okay. So >> item three through >> three and four will be taken together given they are separate their ordinances. >> Three and four. Okay. Item 42 25-1525 ordinance is by council member Andrea Elboom authorizing the city attorney or her designate to execute a settlement on behalf of the city of Atlanta to resolve claims against Profilo and Profilo K y and sulfonic acid manufacturer 3M company in the amount of 1,452,768.3 and for other purposes. is >> all right. Is there a motion to approve those two items? >> Motion by council member Bakiari, second by council member Juan. Please prepare the vote on items three and four. Oh, >> we can just call [Music] official balance. >> The vote's closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yays. >> 14 yay, zero nays. >> 14 yay, zero nays. Those items are approved. And again, Chairwoman Boon, if we can now take the resolutions, items five through 11 together, please. >> Resolutions. A resolution by public number of item 525-R3963. Item five, a resolution by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against the city of Atlanta in the case of Alon Tishon and Yono Point LLC versus City of Atlanta ETA civil action file number 24 CV00008199 pending in the Superior Court of Fton County and the amount of $90,000 the settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid 8 as follows. $45,000 from one 01 general fund center number 20001 non-EP departmental account 52120005 litigation expenses and functional activity number 1512000 accounting and $45,000 and 0 from 5051 water and wastewater revenue fund 2000301 Indie BP unallocated citywide and employee expenses 52120005 litigation expenses and 15400 human resources and for other purposes. Item six, a res a resolution 25-R3964, a resolution by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against the city of Atlanta in the case of Christina Stewart versus City of Atlanta ETA civil action file number 23 V0024101 pending in the state court of Fulton County in the amount of $17,5000. The settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from 5051 water and wastewater revenue fund 20003301 NDP unallocated citywide employee expenses 52120005 litigation expenses and 1540000 human resources and for other purposes. Item 725-R3965, a resolution by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against the city of Atlanta in the case of Princess N. Roberts versus City of Atlanta ETA civil action file number 24EV0000801 [Music] pending in the state court of Fulton County in the amount of $75,000. The settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from one 01. General fund center number 2000101 non-EP departmental account 52120005 litigation expenses and functional activity number 1512000 accounting and for other purposes item 825-R3966 a resolution by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against defendant city of Atlanta in the case of R U A L L I N O B Y V city of Atlanta civil action file number 23E v00262 pending in the state court of Fton County in the amount of $14,5000 the settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from 10001 general fund center number 20001 one non-dep departmental account 5212 0005 litigation expenses and for functional activity 1512000 0 accounting and for other purposes item 925R-3967 a resolution by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against the city of Atlanta in the case of Stacy Newman versus city of Atlanta action file number 23EV 002271 pending in the state of quarter Fton County, state of Georgia and an amount of $200,000. The settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from 10001 general fund center number 20001 non-EP departmental account 52120005 litigation expenses and functional activity number 1512000 accounting and for other purposes item 1025-R R-3968, a resolution by public safety and legal administration committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against the city of Atlanta in the case of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company as Sue Broi of Brenda Rogers versus City of Atlanta. Civil action file number 24E v003393 pending in the state court of Fulton County, Georgia in an amount of $8,16946 the settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from 10001 general fund center number 20001 non-EP departmental Account 52120005, litigation expenses and functional activity number 1512000, accounting and for other purposes. Item 11 25-R3969, a resolution by Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee authorizing the settlement of all claims against defendant officer Lauren Parker in the case of Tony Straoud versus Officer Lauren Parker. Civil action file number 25 M ST S234256 pending in the magistrate court of Fulton County in the amount of $8000. The settlement amount authorizing the settlement amount to be charged to and paid from 10001 general fund center number 20001 non-EP departmental account 52120005 litigation expenses and functional activity number 1512000 accounting and for other purposes. >> Thank you chairwoman. Get you a drink of water. Someone would like to make a motion on items 5 through 11. >> So moved by council member Juan, second by council member Doer. >> Please prepare the vote on those items. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The votes closed. 12 yays, zero nays. >> 12 yays, zero nays. Those items are approved. >> Colleagues, we have one dual referred item comes to us from CDHS with a favorable recommendation. Item 1225-0-1473, an ordinance by council member Byron D. Amos as substituted by community development human services committee to amend chapter 78 fire prevention and protection article 3 fire prevention and fire safety standards section 78 through 57. amendments to require that all fire department connections be clearly labeled with the floor or area of the building they are connected to and for other purposes. >> Is there a motion to approve? So move by council member Juan. Is there a second? >> Second by council member Collins. Please the vote is the vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> The vote closed. 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yays and zero nays. That item is approved. >> We have no items coming off of held today. Thus concludes our legislative business for today. >> Thank you, Chairwoman Boon. And again, we'll be staying in committee behold so we can have the transportation committee with council member Amos. Chairman Amos. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro Tam, since we're already in committee of a whole, um there's a need for us to enter into public hearings. I make a motion to enter into public hearing. >> Motion to enter into public hearing by Chairman Amos. Second by Council Member Doer. Please prepare the vote. >> One moment. One moment. The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? Will everyone please uh council member Colin, what is your vote? >> It's yay. It is not coming up. So >> the vote is closed. 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yay, zero nays. We're now in the public hearing. >> Thank you. Item number 25-1514, an ordinance by transportation committee authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to abandon and convey a portion of a public street known as Third Street consisting of 0.3443 acres lying and between land lot 249 of the 17th district of Fulton County, Georgia and being mirror specifically described in the attached exhibit A to LH AW carry Park LLC authorizing the mayor his designate to execute a quick claim deed for such an abandonment rightaway and for other documents necessary to effectuate the abandonment and for other purposes. Is there anyone here to speak to this item? >> Second motion to close the public hearing by council member one seconded by chairman Amos. We can do this on a unanimous consent with no objection. Madame clerk That's 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. We're now out of the public hearing. Chairman Amos, >> thank you. It takes us to our orders for second reading. 25-0. >> Ah, okay. Yeah, we back up. We got to act on this item. Um, in reference to 25-1514, make a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by council member Amos. >> Second by council member Juan. Please prepare the vote. [Music] >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? Will everyone please vote? The votes closed. 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yays, zero nays. That item is approved. >> Thank you. Now that takes us to ordinance for second reading. 25-1512. Ordinance by transportation committee authorizing the chief financial officer, his designate to amend the fiscal year 2026 general government capital outlay fund budget on behalf of the Atlanta Department of Transportation by transferring impact fees fund to arrow ATL trail segment Adams Park came road to Cascade Heights Historic District in the amount not to exceed $250,000 for the purpose of completing preliminary engineering for the Arrow ATL trail segment Adams Park Cameron Road to the Cascade Heights Historic District and for other purposes motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by chairman Amos. Second >> second by Council Member Lewis. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The vote pass. 12 ya, zero nays. >> 12 ya, zero nays. Are items approved? >> Thanks, sir. 25-1513. Ordinance by transportation committee authorizing the mayor on behalf of the city of Atlanta to execute all documents necessary for the acquisition of certain additional property interest necessary for the Monroe Drive complete street project. Authorizing negotiations with property owners for the acquisition of such property interest. Authorizing title searches, appraisal, surveys, and other items necessary for the acquisition of such property interest. Authorizing the mayor and the city attorney in the event negotiations are unsuccessful to institute condemnation proceedings pursuant to the declaration of taking method. State code listed wave in certain provisions and article 10 real estate and procurement code for the city of Atlanta code of ordinance. All contracted work and payments for property interest to be paid from the account listed number listed here and and for other purposes. Motion to approve. >> Motion approved by council member Amos. Second by council member Juan. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The votes closed. 12 ya zero nays. >> 12 ya z. That item is approved >> 25-1515 ordinance by transportation committee to authorize mayor is designate to execute cooperative purchasing agreement listed Oracle license and support services utilizing state of Georgia contract number listed between the state of Georgia Technology Authority and Mystics Incorporated for Oracle license and support services on behalf of the Department of Aviation for the term of one year retroactively effective July July 1st. 2025 through June 30th, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $474,19 $1760 in accordance with section 2-1606 of the procurement and real estate code for the city of Atlanta code of ordinance. All contract work shall be charged to and paid from account numbers listed here and and for other purposes. Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by chairman Amos, second by council member one. Please prepare the vote. The vote is open. [Music] Will everyone please vote? >> The both closed. 11 yay, one abstension. >> 11 yays, zero nays, one abstension. >> I work for Salesforce, so I'm abstaining from any purchasing agreements with Oracle. Thank you, Council Member Woff. >> That item is approved. >> Takes us to our next item, 25-1528. To my understand, there's a substitute to add the account number. So, I make a motion to substitute. >> Motion to substitute by Chairman Amos, second by council member one. Please prepare the vote on the substitute. The vote is open. >> The vote closed. 12 ya zero nays. >> 12 ya z substituted in force. >> Thank you for the record. It does not change the caption. So 25-152A ordinance by council member Marcy car over street authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute amendment number four to agreement listed cascade road avenue streetscape and signal installation with Matthew Kelly JB on behalf of department of transportation to add funding for continue construction of the cas cascade road complete street phase 1 in the amount not to exceed $4,665,800 to wave chapter 2 article 10, Division 7, Section 21298E, and Chapter 2, Article 10, Division 4, Section 2-1187 of the Procurement of Real Estate Code of the City of Atlanta, Code of Ordinances. All contract work to be charged to and paid from fund, department, organization, and account numbers listed herein and for other purposes. Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by Chairman Amos. Is there a second? >> Second by Council Member West Morland. Please prepare the vote on the substitute. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yays, zero nays. That item is approved on substitute. Next item 25-1529, ordinance by council member Antonio Lewis authorizing the abandonment of a portion of St. John's Circle Southwest consisting approximately 0.261 261 acres of being more specifically described in the attached exhibit A lying and being in land lot 90 of the 14th district Fulton County, Georgia. Authorizing the mayor his designate to execute a quick claim deed for such abandonment rightaway and other documents necessary to evacuate the abandonment to Fulton County of Atlanta Land Bank Authority Incorporated doing business as Metro Atlanta Land Bank waving certain provisions of the code of ordinance and for other purposes. Motion to hold for public hearing. Is this is a hold? >> Yes. >> Public hearing >> held on committee. Motion to hold by council member Amos. Second by council member Wine. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The votes close. The 13 yays, I mean 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yay, zero nays. That item will be held in committee. >> Thank you. Next item is 25-R3904. Um, you need to amend this item to add exhibit A. Motion to amend. >> Motion to amend by council member Amos, second by council member Juan. Please vote on the amendment. No, this is [Music] >> the vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> The votes closed. 13 y z >> 13 yays zero nays amendment is approved >> 25-R3904 resolution by council member Marcar over street authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute an intergovernmental light team agreement with Georgia department of transportation on behalf of Atlanta department of transportation for the purpose of assuming full responsibility and cause for compliance with the Georgia utility facility protection act and the operation repair and maintenance of the lighting system including but not limited do damage Replacement of bulbs, balances luminary structures associated equipment, conduits, wiring, service equipment of the lightning system installed by the Georgia Department of Transportation as part of the state route 154, state route 166 from 185 to I285. Lightning project listed Fulton County as shown in exhibit A and for other purposes. Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by chairman Amos, second by council member one. Please prepare the vote to approve as amended. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> Mr. Bond, what is your vote? >> Vote is closed. 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yay, zero nays. That item is approved. Next item is 25-R3907. Um, Mr. President, Protown, there's a need for a substitute that will change the caption. Make a motion to substitute. >> Motion to substitute by Chairman Amos. Is there a second? >> Second by Council Member West Morland. >> Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> Will everyone please vote? >> Yes. >> Council Boon, what is your vote? I >> 13 yays, zero nays. >> 13 yays, zero nays. Resolution 25-R3907, a resolution by council member Liliana Baktiari as a substituted by transportation committee authorizing the contribution of a total amount not to exceed $60,000 to the Cabbagetown Initiative Community Development Corporation to restore and improve the Krag Street Micromobility Hub. Authorizing the chief financial officer to make the payment from the account number listed here and and for other purposes. Motion to approve. Motion to approve on substitute by chairman Amos, second by council member Baktiari. Please prepare the vote. The vote is open. >> The votes closed. 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yays, zero nays. That item is approved on substitute. >> Thank you, Mr. President Pro Tam take items without objection number nine and 10 together. >> Please proceed. >> Thank you. 25-R3908, a resolution by council member Byron D. Amos authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to amend concessions lease agreement listed concessions package 2F1 concourse B with Delaware North Company's Travel Hospitality Inc. to incorporate the name change and for other purposes. Number 10, 25-R3909, a resolution by council member Byron D. Amos authorizing the mayor on behalf of the city of Atlanta to consent to and approve the assignment of concessions lease agreement listed concessions package to F1 concourse B with the Travel Hospitality Services LLC to Arena Area USA, Inc. and for other purposes. Motion to approve items. Um motion to approve 25-R3908 and 25-R3909. Mo motion to approve those two items by chairman A. Second by council member one. Please prepare the vote on items 9 and >> the vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? [Music] The vote's closed. That's 12 yay, zero. Council member Maboom, what is your vote? >> She said to the vote's closed. 12 ya, zero nays. >> 12 ya, zero nays. Those two items are approved. Item 25-R3910, resolution by council member Howashuk authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to um execute an encroachment agreement with the Garn Hill Civic Association, Inc. authorizing permanent installation of a Centennial Post Clock on and or in the traffic circle at Bowling Road Northwest Pine Tree Drive Northeast and Ransom Road Northeast. Right ofway located adjacent to 20 257 Bowling Road, Northeast Atlanta, Georgia 30305, 300 Bowling Road, Northeast Atlanta, Georgia 30305, 280 Bowling Road, Northeast Atlanta, Georgia 3035 and 281 Bowling Road, Northeast Atlanta, Georgia 30305. And for other purposes, motion to amend to add exhibit A. >> Motion to amend by Chairman Amos, second by Council Member Juan. Please spur the vote on the amendment. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? One moment. One moment. >> 11 yay, zero nays. >> 11 yay, zero nays. Amendment is approved. >> Motion to approve as amended. Motion approved as amended by Chairman Amos, second by council member one. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? Okay. >> 12. Yay. Zero days. >> Got you. >> Got two. >> 12. Yay. Zero nays. That item is the amendment or the >> was an amendment a minute item. Approve as amended 12 ya z. >> Thank you Mr. President. Pro 10 without objection take number 12 and 13 together. >> Please proceed. Number 12, 25-R390. Um sorry 25-R3974. A resolution by Transportation Committee supplementing a joint tax order fund for fiscal year 2026 in the amount not to exceed 7,180,965 for use under eight architectural and engineering design services contracts for services at Hartsville Jackson Atlanta International Airport. All services will be charged to and paid from the account numbers listed here and and for other purposes. Item number 132-R3975, a resolution by transportation committee supplementing a joint task order fund in the amount not to exceed 1,140,000 for use under four small architectural engineering design services contracts for contracts listed. There we go. Hope Consulting Company LLC and um other contract listed DK Engineering Group Inc. for services to be performed at Hartsville Jackson Atlanta International Airport. All services will be charged to and paid from account numbers listed here and and for other purposes. Motion to approve item 125-R3974 and item 1325-R3975. >> Motion to approve by chairman Amos. Is there a second? Second by council member one. Please prepare the vote on those two items. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> The votes close. That's 12 ya, zero nays. >> 12A, zero nays. Those two items are approved. >> Next item, 25-R3976. A resolution by transportation committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to amend contract listed concourse D welding construction management at risk at Hartsville Jackson Atlanta international airport for Moody holder Bryson sovereign in joint vision increasing to increasing the not to exceed amount to $960 million um and to partially fund the construction phase of the concourse D South Pier in the amount of $345 million for services at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. All services will be charged to and paid from the contract number listed herein and for other purposes. Motion to approve. >> Motion approved by Chairman Amos, seconded by Council Member Juan. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The vote closed. 12 yay, zero nays. >> Who is yes? >> 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yays and zero nays. Item is approved. >> Item number 1525-R3977, a resolution by transportation committee authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to execute a temporary rightway agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc. for the purpose of installing fence to fencing to minimize encampment under the CSS railroad crossing at Chester Bridge to authorize chief financial officer to remit payment to CSS transportation in the amount not to exceed $13,420 on behalf of the Atlanta Department of Transportation. All costs to be paid from the account numbers listed herein and for other purposes. Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by Chairman Amos, second by council member Juan. As part of the vote, >> the vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> The vote's closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero naysay. That is approved. >> Mr. President, pro Tim, without objection, if I can take item number 16 and 18 together. >> Please proceed. Item number 1625-R3978, a resolution by transportation committee authorizing the mayor his designate to execute an intergovernmental lighting agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation on behalf of the Atlanta Department of Transportation for the purpose of assuming full responsibility and calls for the compliance with the Georgia utility facility protection act and the operation repair and maintenance of the lighting system including but not limited to damages, replacement of bulbs balances luminaries structures associated equipment conduits wiring service equipment for the lightning system installed by the Georgia Department of Transportation as part of the state route 13 at Monroe Drive project number listed as shown in exhibit A and for other purposes motion to approve well got to get the other one number 18 25-R39 um 80 just for the record withdraw my motion um a resolution by transportation committee authorizing the mayor his designate to execute an intergovernmental lighting agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation on behalf of Atlanta Atlanta Department of Transportation for the purpose of assuming full responsibility and cost for the compliance with the Georgia Utility Faculty Protection Act and operations, repair and maintenance of the lighting system, including but not limited to damages, replacement of lamps, balances, luminary structures, associated equipment condrants wiring service equipment for the lightning service installed by the Georgia Department of Transportation as part of the state route 42. 2 at CS22199 United Avenue and CS2335 Skyhaven Road um VRU project listed as shown in exhibit A and for other purposes. Now I make a motion to approve 25-R3978 and 25-R3980. Motion to approve. Motion by Chairman Amos, second by council member Juan. And before we go to a vote, council member Juan. >> Um, thank you. I'm supportive of these, but it clearly with the um 3978 the Monroe Drive roundabout, that means this signals to me that this project is getting ready to move forward. So, at some point, I'd appreciate a briefing from the department or from GOT about that project status. Um, but I'll support this motion. >> Thank council member one. Please spur the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> The votes closed. 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yay, zero nays. Those two items are approved. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro 10 brings us to the last item for today. Item number 17 25-R3979, a resolution by transportation committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute renewal options number two for contract listing mercy on call debris removal services with CERS Environmental Services Inc. on behalf of Atlanta Department of Transportation for a term of one year effective December 28, 2025 through December 27, 2026 and for other purposes. Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by Chairman Amos, second by Council Member Octiari. Please further the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The post close. Oh, >> 11 yay, zero nays. >> 11 yays, zero nays. That item is approved. >> Mr. President, pro Tim, that ends my report. >> Thank you, chair. Next up is an additional committee. We have some business to handle in committee of a whole which is the city utilities committee. Chairman Lewis and thank you and we'll stay in committee of whole. The items can be taken as a block. The items will need to be amended to attach the IPO report which I've emailed out to everyone. The 25R3778, item number three, page 38, a resolution by city utilities committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute an agreement for FP AMD MDW M2406 on call major electrical repairs and services with Brown Electrical LLBJV on behalf of the Department of Waterhed Management for a term of three years with two one-year two one-year renewal options in an amount account not to exceed 2,250,000 subject to and expressly contingent on the on the adoption of the fiscal year 2027 and 2028 budget. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund development organ organization and account number listed herein and for other purposes. Number 3, 25 R 3779, item four on page 39, a resolution by city utilities committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute an agreement for RFP AMDWM246124325B on call major electrical repairs and services with Ruby Collins SE joint venture on behalf of the department of watershed management and for a term of three years for two one-year renewals options in an amount not to exceed $17,100,000 subject and expressly contingent on the adoption of the fiscal year 2027 and 2028 budgets. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account number listed in and fellow purposes. Motion to adopt as amended. No >> motion to amend. >> Motion to amend by chairman Lewis. Is there a second? >> Second by council member Boone. Please prepare the vote on the motion to amend those two items. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? Those closed 10 yay, zero nays. >> 10 yay, zero nays. Those two items are amended. >> Thank you. I now will motion to adopt as amended. >> Motion to adopt as amended by Chairman Lewis. Is there a second? Second by Council Member Doer. Before we move to a vote, Council Member Juan does have a question. >> Thank you. It's a question for the administration. Um, first off, a comment that I think it's in very bad form for us to be going into the committee the whole on a full council day to add an IRO report that we did not receive in committee for a $20 million contract. I see from our notes in terms of the agenda that we're going to be sending this post. So I want to understand from the department uh from the administration one why the IRO is late and then second why we're cramming this through today and what the urgency is because otherwise I'm not comfortable. I just think it's really bad form um for us to be asked to review an IP report on the fly. DC Fletcher >> Quentyn Fletcher, Department of Watershed Management. Um, council member one, we c we can defer to the department of procurement regarding um, the IPRO. Um, we both received the IPRO report on last week. Um this legislation has been with CUC for I believe um two cycles and the reason for the post haste utilizing this contract in in conjunction with several capital improvement projects. We are seeing loan delays for electrical equipment. And so this is to make sure that we pull forward with at least one project which is at the Chattahuchi water treatment plant to make sure it's completed before the FIFA World Cup. Is there anyone from procurement? I mean, the the irony of it is is the IPO report actually is postdated October 14th because it already anticipated it wasn't going to go until the city utilities meeting next cycle. So again, you I think you're putting us in a really awkward spot here um when we have I know uh in terms of committees asked that I reports come to us at least 24 hours even before the committee. So is there any from from the administration who can speak to this Mr. Pace procurement law or finance? I I I think we just need an explanation to get us comfortable with with uh this kind of breach of protocol. >> Behind you. >> Good afternoon council members. Sean Drake Pool, assistant director for the Department of Procurement. Um, part of the delay was us getting the responses, the appropriate responses to the IPRO findings and then running that through our approval which includes the U review by the CPO and the COO >> uh responses from the department of watershed. >> No, we work we work collectively to get the responses to the IRO findings. >> Okay. So who who prepared those responses or who are you waiting on for those responses? Watershed or procurement? >> Well, we worked collaboratively with the project manager who's over the project and then we did have to get some documents to uh support the findings. >> So, is this available we were outsourcing to? >> I'm not sure. I see someone else behind you. I don't know if there was an additional comment. I'm I'm just curious. Again, it's a $20 million contract, so it's not a small thing and I I think it warrants this discussion. I see Mr. Pace too. Wow, we got the coal calvary out here. >> Brandy Stanley, director implementation department of procurement. Um, we did have a couple of observations that required us to check the formulas on those and to get updated documents. So, in the process of doing that along with the user agency to get the responses to substantiate I'm sorry, I just ran up here. >> That's okay. um to substantiate any of the responses that had observations. So, we took the time to go through those. And again, as Miss P stated, it had to go through our leadership approval as well as executive offices. >> Okay. And if I recall correct, this has been held for two cycles in committee. So, it's taken that four cycles. All right. Y'all aren't making me feel better because it was held that long for IPO report and the delay was because of additional clarification. It wasn't a very what I would consider to be a simple innocuous finding and and resolution. And so y'all are actually pushing me in in the opposite direction in terms of comfort. Mr. Pace, I don't know if you want to add anything or not. Um, >> no, he doesn't. Yeah, what we've definitely taken a look at um making sure that we respond to those observations in a timely manner involving our user agency risk or OC if those responses are needed so that we can expedite the process and ensure that we get those reports back in a timely manner for leadership and executive review. >> All right, thanks for the exclamation. Um so colleagues, I'm gonna I'm gonna hold my nose on this and support it. I I just um the findings are with the explanations rather innocuous and they're they're not anything that would have raised in my head an alarm um while we were in committee. So, you know, any questions I would have asked on the 14th um I wouldn't have asked because the the I just I'm again I think it's bad form, bad protocol. Um, and I just hope that this signal for y'all uh, for the administration is that um, this is going to be one of those very rare exceptions. Um, and I understand because of the urgency of the work and the fact that we are going to send this post haste um, again I will I'll hold my nose and and keep it keep this moving forward. So uh, Mr. President Paten, my yield. >> Thank you. Council member Warren, please refer the vote. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> The votes closed. 10 yay, zero nays. >> 10 yays, zero nays. Those two items are approved. I believe that does complete our work that is needed to be done in committee of a whole. So, Chairman Lewis, if you'd like to make that motion to >> I make a motion to exit committee of a whole. >> Motion to exit committee of a whole made by Chairman Lewis, seconded by Council Member Doer. Please prepare the vote to exit committee of a whole. >> Mike. >> Yep. Gotcha. [Music] bringing legislation. >> So, if you will withdraw your motions, I've now just been told we have an additional item that needs to be addressed in committee of a whole that I was just now made aware of. So if you please recall your second and your >> I withdraw my motion. >> Okay. So please prepare for that's it's been removed and so now >> that is in committee on councel and was that led by >> yes >> vice chair bactiari? Yes, Vice Chair Biar will provide this report today. Thank you. [Music] All right. We do have one additional item as I mentioned to take care of in committee behold that is on committee on council. Uh it is an appointment so we're going to go ahead and handle that and then come out of committee of a whole vice chair baktiari. >> Thank you Mr. Pro Tim. Um we I'm going to go ahead as we're in committee the whole to ask believe we have is it Mr. Gray in attendance. So I'm going to go ahead and read the legislation again. 25R uh 25-R3897 an amended resolution by committee on council appointing Mr. Todd Gray to the governing board of the office of the inspector general as a representative of the Atlanta Business League for a term of three years said term to commence upon approval of this resolution and for other purposes. And I believe that Mr. Gray is here. So please come forward and tell us a little bit about yourself and why you'd like to serve. >> All right. Thank you and good afternoon members of council and happy birthday to council Amos over there. I'm Todd Gray. I'm an Atlanta native. Uh my career spans 20 years in areas of supplier diversity, procurement and also social responsibility. I've served over 10 years uh on the board of ethics and also the governing board of office of inspector general ethics and my passion is to uphold the rights of our employees and citizens assuring appropriate operations and governance and partnership with the office of inspector general and I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the IG to build the trust and effectiveness of the oi that the oi office requires to be successful in this work. As we all know, this work is mission critical to the strength of the legacy of Atlanta and leadership is about doing what's right. So, I would like to thank each member of council for your commitment to this work, your courage in this area. And I look forward to continuing to serve in this capacity to ensure that the citizens of Atlanta and our employees rights are upheld as we continue to make sure we have a culture of ethics and transparency. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Gray, and appreciate your willingness to serve. >> I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve. Motion to approve by vice chair Bakiari, second by council council member Wes Morland. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> The votes closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13, zero nays. That item or that appointment is approved, >> Mr. Gray. Thank you. You're It's approved and um somebody from the clerk's office will be in touch with you about next steps. >> Sounds great. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Um I will go ahead and motion to exit out of committee. >> Yes. Now, that does conclude our business and committee of a whole. Motion to exit committee by Vice Chair Bakiari. Second by Council Member Juan. Please prepare the vote. Exit committee of a whole. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> We're trying to close it. >> Is she back? >> The votes closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> Okay. >> 13 yay, zero nays. We're out of committee of a whole. >> Um, thank you. I would like to go ahead and make a motion to approve all items >> in gross from committee of the whole second. >> Motion by council member Baktiari and seconded by council member Juan to approve all items made in all actions made in committee of a whole and gross. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? The vote's closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. All item, all actions taken in committee of a whole have been approved and gross. And now we will >> finish them. Actually, I want to hear from council member Amos and then council member Lewis as two items in transportation and two items in city utilities need to move post haste. So, council member Amos. >> Thank you, sir. Make a motion to move items um number 25-R3908 and um item 25-R3909 to the mayor's office post. You go ahead and add your items. We go ahead and do that. Mr. Parliamentarian. >> Yes, sir. I would like to add items 25 R3778 25 and 325R 3779 to the mayor's office post. >> Thank you, council members. Clerk, do you have those four items listed? >> We'll just Yeah. >> M3 and 909. Yeah. One moment. So motion to approve or motion to send those four items post haste by council member Amos. Second by council member Lewis. Please prepare that vote. >> The vote is open. That's fine. Will everyone please vote? All four. >> Yeah, just show. Yeah, >> the closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. Those four items will be sent post to the mayor's office. Chair Bakiari, Vice Chair Bakari, please finish your COC report and then we will go back to Chairman Lewis to finish his city utilities report. >> Thank you. Um, item number 125-C 00075, a communication from council members Liliana Bactiari, District 5, Alex Juan, District 6, Howard Shook, District 7, Mary Norwood, District 8, and Matt West Morland, post two at large, as amended by committee on council, appointing Miss Deborah Snell to serve as a member of the human relations commission. This appointment is for a term of three years. Um, and the recommendation is to adopt as amended. >> This is coming out of committee council, so does not need a second. Please require the vote. The vote is open. [Music] >> Will everyone please vote? The closed 13 yay, zero naysay. >> 13 yays, zero nays. Item is approved. >> Thank you. If there are no objections, may we take items two to three together as a block, >> please. >> Item number two, 25- C-0110. A communication from council members Liliana Bactiari, Alex Juan, and Matt Wis Morland appointing Mr. James Cheeks to serve as a member of the zoning review board. This appointment is for a term of two years. Item number 325- C-011. A communication from Mayor Andre Dickens Dickens appointing Mr. Siril Turner to serve as a commissioner of the Department of Public Works for the city of Atlanta. Both items come before the body favorable in their committee's purview and from the committee on council and the recommendation is to adopt. Please refer a vote. The B is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> The votes closed. 13 yay and zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. Those two items are adopted. >> Thank you. Okay. Uh, item number 425-R3981, an amended resolution by committee on council appointing Mr. Drew Williamson to the ethics board as the representative of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for a term of three years and said term to commence upon approval of this resolution and for other purposes. Um, the I'll motion to adopt as amended. >> Motion to adopt as amended made byari. Please spare the vote. The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> The vote is closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> Thank you. This brings us to our >> zero nam is approved. >> Thank you. This or this brings us to our ordinances for first reading. 25-1547, an ordinance by committee on council to amend the city of Atlanta code of ordinances section 62-266-2, sorry, precinct boundary lines and polling places by amending the 2017 precincts and polling places ordinance in Fulton County precincts as identified by attachment A, city of Atlanta precinct values election day polling locations 114205 and for other purposes. I will go ahead and make the motion to refer this back to committee on council. >> Motion to refer back to committee on council. Is there a second? >> Second by chair or council member Lewis. Please confer the vote. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> Okay, the vote's closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 13 zs. Item is approved or sent back to committee. >> Thank you. Um, this brings us to our ordinances for second reading and our final legislative item. Item number 625-0-1524, an ordinance by council member Andrea Albu as substituted by Finance Exec Committee authorizing authorizing the chief financial officer to amend the FY 2026 budget in the amount of $50,000 relating to the Atlanta Commission on Women Trust Fund and for other purposes. Adopt. My motion is to adopt as substituted. >> Motion to adopt on substitute. Please prepare the vote. The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? 13 yay. The vote's closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13, zero nays. Item is approved. >> Thank you. This concludes my legislative business. >> Thank you, Vice Sher Octiari. Back up on home plate. Uh, Chairman Lewis, >> thank you. A number 125R 3895, item number one, page 38, an amended resolution by city utilities committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute an agreement for IFB conWM25021250143 EIB Valley of the Hawks construction wetlands product project with Integral Municipal Services Corporation. Rockdale Pipeline Incorporated joint venture on behalf of the of the Department of Wershed Management for a term to commence on the date of notice to proceed an issue of 18 months and then amount not to exceed 11,717,733. All contractor work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account number listed herein and for other purposes. I'll go ahead and send this back to committee. >> You're making a motion to send this back to committee. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by council member Boone. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The most closed. 11 yay, zero nays. >> 11 yay, zero nays. That item is referred back to committee. Chairman Lewis, that does complete your report. >> President Pro Tim, thank you for coming back to me. This completes my report. >> You're welcome. Now, zoning committee chair Matt West Morland. >> Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer. We have one item. It's an ordinance for second read. This legislation number 251420 Z2549 1488 Bolton Road Northwest. Ordinance is to reszone from I1C to I1 for a change of conditions. The recommendation coming out of committee is to file. >> Recommendation coming out of committee is to file. Please prepare the vote on that. >> The the vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> The vote's close. That's 12 ya, zero nays. >> 12 yays, zero nays. That item is filed. That concludes the quickest committee report so far. >> Indeed. Next. Next up is Community Development Human Services Committee. >> Chairman Weston. >> Thank you, President Proim. Uh colleagues, I had two items that I pulled off of consent. Uh the first is 25-R3899. I'd like to make a motion to substitute. And this substitute replaces some appoint point appointees by council members. >> Motion. Motion to substitute by Chairman Winston, seconded by Council Member Juan. Please prepare the vote on the substitute. >> One moment. the vote. One moment. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> You got a vote. >> The vote is closed. 12 yays, zero nays. >> 12 yays, zero nays. Substitutes before us. >> Thank you. uh a resolution by council member Michael Julian Bun as substituted by Atlanta City Council appointing members to serve on the city of Atlanta's reparations study commission and for other purposes. Um I'd like to make a motion to approve as substituted. Motion to approve as substituted by Chairman Winston, seconded by Council Member Juan. Please prepare the vote. The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The votes closed. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yays, zero nays. That item is approved on substitute. >> Thank you. Thank you. And the second item that was removed from the consent agenda on page I uh page 8, which is item number 325-R3901. I'd like to make a motion to bring forth the substitute uh which replaces the fiscal agent for the donation. >> Motion to substitute by Chairman Winston, seconded by Council Member Biari. Please prepare the vote on the substitute. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> The vote's close. >> 12 yays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. >> Mr. Juan, what's what is your vote? >> 13 yay, zero naysay. >> 13 yay, zero naysay. Substitutes before us. >> Thank you. uh 25-R3901, a resolution by Council Member Wes Morland as substituted by the Atlanta City Council authorizing a donation in a total amount not to exceed $250,000 cents to the Georgia State University Research Foundation to support emergency home repairs for legacy residents in order to help prevent displacement pursuant to section number listed of the City of Atlanta's charter and for other purposes. Uh I'd like to make a motion to approve as substituted. Motion to approve is substituted by Chairman Winston, second by Council Member Biari. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> Votes close. 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13, zero nays. That item is approved on substitute. >> Thank you. That concludes my report. Thank you, Chairman Winston. Last but not least, we have a finance executive committee report being given by vice chair Juan. >> All right, colleagues, if you'll turn to page 56 in the agenda. First item is a communications. It's 25 C0090. A communication from Donald T. Penovi CPA Chair Audit Committee submitting the performance audit report beltline SSD financial review 2025. Motion from committees to accept and file. >> Motion from the committee to accept and file. Please the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Is it close? >> The vote's closed. >> 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. Arms accepted and filed. >> That takes us to ordinances for second read. First item is 251509, an ordinance by Finance Executive Committee authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the city of Atlantis to execute all appropriate documents that would grant Georgia Power Company for an amount not less than $377,5000. four utility easements across the city own real property located um and the parcel ID numbers listed known as Spinx Collins Park um located at 21101 Collins Drive Northwest Atlanta, Georgia 30318 to permit Georgia Power Company to go in upon along across under and through the property is defined in the easements waving real estate and procurement code article 10 subdivision 3 sections 21571 and 1572 of the city of Atlanta code of ordinances and for other purposes. This came out of committee favorable on condition. The condition has been met. So the motion is to adopt. >> Motion to adopt. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The closed. That's 12. Yay. Zero nays. >> You good? You good? Okay. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. Was it 13? 12 zero and a item is approved. >> Okay. Item 251527, an ordinance by council member Howard Shook to ratify Mayor Andre Dickens executive order directing that the chief of police, the commissioner of the department of city planning, the director of the mayor's office of film, entertainment, and nightlife, the commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Transportation, the chief of staff, the commissioner of the department of parks and recreation, and the director of the mayor's office of special events accept no new applications for permits related to outdoor vending on public or private property, permits for activities which may impede upon the right of way, or require Closings thereof, closures thereof, and permits to authorize the conduct of large gatherings and outdoor festivals for such permitted activity shall occur from June 11th to July 19, 2026, the FIFA operational period within the area designated in this order for the purpose of providing for adequate strategic planning by the city of Atlanta and other public and private entities integral to the successful hosting of FIFA World Cup 26, directing that the chief of staff, the commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Department I'm sorry. Director of the mayor's office of special events shall temporarily require the submission of all large gathering or outdoor festival permits for such outdoor events occurring during the FIFA operational period citywide no earlier than 150 days prior to such events to ensure an adequate allocation of public safety and other city resources and providing for exceptions for assemblies and for certain outdoor events with priority status established by city ordinance and for street, sidewalk and rideway closures which shall be necessary due to emergencies and for other purposes. This came out favorable from the committee. The motion is to adopt. >> Motion to adopt. Please refer the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The votes closed. 12 ya, zero nays. >> 12, zero nays. That item is approved. >> Mr. Prom, that uh concludes my report. >> Thank you, Vice Chair Juan. And that does conclude our committee reports. Finally, we will move on to uh personal papers before we take the one item for immediate consideration. U been requested to let two council members introduce their ordinance first. We'll start with uh council member Collins. You want to read your paper in please? Thanks, Colin. Collins. Thank you so much, Mr. President. AMS's ID number 38838, an ordinance by council member Isa Collins authorizing the chief financial officer to amend the FY2026 water and wastewater sublean revenue bond fund fund number 5086 budget in the amount of 7,500 uh $500,000 to transfer funds from the reserves for appropriations and add funds to the annual storm water infrastructure project and for other purposes >> will >> be referred to the city utilities committee. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Council Member Collins. Council member Boon, go ahead and read your immediate consideration paper in, please. >> Very nice. Yeah. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro Tim. A resolution by council member Andrea Boon, Jason Doer, Liliana Batiierra, Matt West Morland, Michael Julian Bond, Antonio Lewis, Eay Collins, Matt West Morland, Byron D Amos, Jason Winston, Marcy Cara overre >> an item for immediate consideration, item number 38849, a resolution by council member Andrea Elbo Boon, expressing the support of the Atlanta City Council for the member ers of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, WNBPA, including the Atlanta Dream, and urging the Women's National Basketball Association, WNBA, to negotiate equitable contracts that provide fair compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its players and for other purposes. Whereas the Women's National Basketball Players Association is the first professional sports union for women established in 1998 to promote the interests, aspirations, and long-term visions of WNBA players. And whereas the members of the WNBPA are professional athletes employed across 13 teams in 13 US cities including the Atlanta Dream who play their home games at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia with additional expansion teams anticipated in Toronto, Portland Cleveland Detroit and Philadelphia. And whereas the members of the WNBPA are now engaged in their six collective bargaining negotiations with the WNBA at advocating for higher wages, stronger benefits, and professional working conditions that reflect their invaluable contributions to women's basketball. And whereas players currently receive no shared revenue under the current collective bargaining agreement. in contrast with other major professional sports leagues in which players receive between 48.8% and 51% of league revenue. And whereas the WNBA is experiencing historic growth, including record-breaking attendance, expanding media contracts, firsttime expansion since 2008, and significant increases in franchise valuations, making this pivotal moment for equity in professional women's sports. And whereas equitable compensation and improved working conditions for a WBPA players would promote gender pay equity demonstrate that women athletes are valued as professionals and strengthen the role of the WBPA in advancing representation opportunity and community impact. And whereas the WNBPA's current contract with the WNBA expires October 31st, 2025, and failure to reach an agreement risk a strike, lockout, and other disruptions with serious consequences for players, teams, fans, and host cities such as Atlanta. And whereas Atlanta has a proud and long-standing history of labor activism with labor unions contributing to improved wages, benefits, and workplace activities that have advanced economic stability and mobility for workers and families across the city. And whereas the Atlanta Dream and their players contribute to the vitality of Atlanta's cultural and civic life, inspire young athletes, and generate positive economic, social impacts for the communities in which they live and work. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city of Atlanta, Atlanta City Council of the City of Atlanta, that the Atlanta City Council hereby expresses strong support for the members of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, including the Atlanta Dream, and urges the Women's National Basketball Association to work diligently and in good faith to negotiate a fair contract before the October 31st, 25 deadline. Be it further resolved that the Atlanta City Council affirms that the players of the WNBA deserve equitable wages, benefits, and working conditions that prioritize their health, safety, and holistic well-being and calls upon the league to ensure that its growth and prosperity are shared with the women whose talent, commitment, and sacrifice make the league possible. >> Second. >> Move approval. >> Second. Motion to approve by councilwoman Bond, seconded by Boone. Council Councilwoman Boon, second by Council Member Doer. Please prepare the vote. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The closed 10 yay zero nays 10 yay zero nays. That item is adopted. >> Thank you. Next item. That item was adopted. Thank you my to my colleagues. Thank you very much. So for this very important resolution today, Elms ID number 38930, a resolution by council member Andre Elon requesting the mayor his designate to install traffic command road southwest in order to reduce speeding and for other purposes. >> I'm sorry, what um what was the number on that one? Council member Boon >> 38930. >> That's referred to the transportation committee. Transportation Committee. ELMS ID number 3884, an ordinance by Council Member Andrea Elbo Boon authorizing the chief financial officer to pay outstanding invoices in an amount not to exceed $432,58.86 86 cents for contract CBG1210272 vehicle rental with Enterprise Leasing Company of Georgia LLC utilizing state of Georgia statewide contract 99999 SPD ES41993761S02 on behalf of the Atlanta Police Department. All contracted worth will be charged to and paid from the fund department, organization, and account numbers listed here and and for other purposes. I will refer to the finance executive committee. Elms ID number 38905, a resolution by council member Andre Elon authorizing the mayor his designate to execute the first amendment to agreement IFB AMDWM24071250012A landscaping and grounds maintenance to Russell Landscaping Company LLC c to add the department of aviation as an authorized user to add funds to the agreement in an amount not to exceed $600,000 0. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account numbers listed here in and for other purposes. >> I don't re referred to the transportation committee. >> Elms ID number 38936 an ordinance by council member Andre El Boon to amend the code of ordinances city of Atlanta, Georgia. Chapter 114, Personnel Article Two, Compensation, Payroll Deductions and Charitable Contributions, Division One, Section 11425, Deduction of Labor Organizations dues from salary subsection G to allow for the recognition of the Progressive Firefighters of Georgia Labor Organization and to allow for the processing of payroll deductions of dues and for other purposes. >> I'm going refer to the public safety and legal administration committee. ELM's IED number 38837 an ordinance by Council Member Andre El Boon to wave chapter 2 article IX division 1 section 2910 grant applications of the city of Atlanta code ordices to ratify the city of Atlanta's grant application with the United States Department of Homeland Security DHS for the FY24 non-competing continuation NCC funding for the FY19 securing the city's program to authorize the chief financial officer to accept the carryover funds of the NCC grant funding and to reallocate the FY25 budget in the amount of $687,180.76 to reappropriate grant funds from DHS to authorize a mayor a director of the mayor's office of emergency preparedness as his designate to enter into any required agreements necessary for the implementation of this award and for other purposes. So I'm referred to the finance executive committee. >> Elms IED number 38907 and a resolution by council member Andrea Oun authorizing the mayor his designate to execute special procurement agreement SPATL25091260052 community navigator program with the Latino Community Fund Inc. on behalf of the mayor's office of international and immigrant affairs pursuant to section 2-1191 of the city of Atlanta code and ordinances for a term of one year with two one-year renewal options and an amount not to exceed $50,000 with the possibility for an additional $100,000 for future allocation by the chief financial officer if funding becomes available. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account numbers listed here and and for other purposes. >> I'll refer to the finances executive committee. Elms ID number 38934 and orders by council member Andrea Elboom to amend chapter 2 administration article procurement and real estate code division generally section 21116 currently reserved to require the department of procurement to conduct postawward debriefing sessions that would be open to offers that submitted bids or proposals during procurement conducted under competitive sourcing methods and for other purposes. That I will refer to the financial executive committee. >> Mr. the president prom that concludes my items. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Boon. Moving back up to the top, Council Member Amos. Yes, sir. President Proams AMS ID 38841 ordinance by council member Byron D. was authorizing the city of Atlanta to wave the pro competitive procurement source selection provision contained in section 2-187 article 10 procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta code of ordinance as well as any other conflicting code provisions on behalf of the department of aviation to exercise renewal option and to expand distributed antenna system coverage to other airport facilities not complicated by agreement listed indooroutdoor distributed antenna system upgrade and expansion with Cleveland Electric Uptown Symphony JV in the amount not to exceed $13 million. All services will be charged to and paid from elicited account herein and for other purposes. >> I will be referred to the transportation committee >> ID 38906 ordinance by council member Byron D. Amos authoriz the city of Atlanta to wave the competitive procurement source selection provision contained in section 2-1187 article 10 procurement of real estate code of the code of ordinance of the city of Atlanta Georgia as well as other conflicting code provisions to execute amendment one to listed contract passenger wait time reporting system with XBSUSA Inc. at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport on behalf of the Department of Aviation to authorize additional funding the amount not to exceed $190,278.35 to transition to the existing XPS platform from ATL's internal network to the um XVS aerrol cloud environment for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,15,389.36 All contracted costs to be charged to and paid from account number listed here and and for other purposes. >> I'll be referred to the transportation committee. >> Mams 38927, an ordinance by council member Byron D. The aim is to amend chapter 150 traffic and vehicles article six stopping standing and parking division 4 residential parking permits to expand the residential parking permit program title vine city residential parking permit area to wave certain requirements of city of Atlanta code of ordinance section 150-148 and 15149 and for other purposes >> be referred to the transportation committee AMS ID 38928, a resolution by council member Byron D. Amos requesting the mayor or his designate to make a all-way stop control intersection at Griffin Street Northwest and Cameron Boulevard Northwest and for other purposes. >> I will refer to the transportation committee ID 38924, an ordinance by council member Byron D. was to amend chapter 74 environment article 10 nuisance with the city of Atlanta code of ordinances and to add code section 74-176 to create an undeveloped vacant property nuisance ordinance within and shall be established at unsecure undeveloped property that remains vacant by more than 60 days and that poses a public nuisance or public safety risk and dangers to public health safety and welfare of the citizens of the city and to require owners to install and maintain and secure perimeter fence and other approved barriers and to provide for definitions, exceptions, enforcement, and penalties and for other purposes. >> I don't refer to the CDHS committee, >> AMS ID 38926, an ordinance by council member Byron D. Aim was to amend city code section to provide for the issuance of permits authorizing the use of household furniture, temporary structures, and or non-permanent fixtures in the city right away when such use involves three or more persons or two or more vehicles and result in the obstruction of slowing of the normal flow of traffic to authorize the chief of police or his designate to issue such permits for a specified date, time, and location and for other purposes. >> I'll be refer to the transportation committee. That's my last paper, sir. >> Thank you, council member. Next up, council member Baktiari. Thank you. Elms ID 38908, a resolution by Liliana Bactiari and Council Member Cardon Woff authorizing the chief financial officer to donate. Oh, I'm sorry. Let me start over. A resolution by council member Liliana Bactiari Cardon Woff Winston Juan Amos Doer Norwood Hillis Bond Lewis and Boone authorizing the chief financial officer to donate an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 from the affordable housing trust fund to Mercy Housing Southeast pursuant to section 6-306 of the city of Atlanta's charter for the public purpose of delivering deeply affordable housing units in the old fourth ward neighborhood by supporting the Henderson Place redevelopment located at 514 Irwin Street Northeast. East Atlanta, Georgia 30312 to authorize the chief financial officer's designate to make all payments from the accounts listed here herein and for other purposes. >> That'll be referred to the CDHS committee. >> Thank you. A resolution of Elves ID number 38938. A resolution by council member Liliana Bactiari and Card Wyoff endorsing the use of District 2 discretionary renew bond renew bond funds in the amount of $645,000 and zero cents to be managed through a project management agreement with Atlanta Downtown Improvement District for the purpose of implementing sidewalk repair and improvement projects in downtown Atlanta and for other purposes. >> I'll be refer to the transportation committee. >> Thank you. Elms ID 38923, an ordinance by council member Liliana Bactiari, Cardan Wyoff, Doer, Winston, Amos Juan Norwood Hillis Lewis and Boone to amend the 1982 Atlanta zoning ordinance as amended requiring primary pedestrian entrances entrances to provide push button activators where relationship of the building to street is required and for other purposes. >> Honor, we refer to the zoning committee. Elm's ID 38932 a resolution by council members Liliana Bactiari Matt West Morland Winston Wyoff a Most Doer Juan Norwood Hillis Boone Over Street Lewis and Collins um launching the it starts with me campaign to help Atlanta achieve and maintain 50% average tree canopy cover within the city of Atlanta and for other purposes. >> I'll be referred to the CDHS committee. Thank you, Mr. Per. That concludes my personal papers. >> Thank you, council member. Next up, council member Bond. Thank you, Mr. President. Pro Tim. First up is Elms ID number 38931, a resolution by council member Michael Julian Bond to amend chapter 78, fire prevention and protection of the code of ordinances of the city of Atlanta by adding a new section 78-37 to require that all engine companies and ladder truck companies of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department be staffed with a minimum of four personnel per apparatus per shift to provide procedures when on duty personnel are not available to allow uh limited exceptions for companies under extreme circumstances to adopt legislative findings and for other purposes. I'll be referred to the public safety and legal administration committee. Elm's ID number 38895, a resolution by council member Michael Julian Bond authorizing the mayor, his designate to enter into a special procurement SPS 00C2591200054, [Music] managed service provider for inmate services on behalf of the Department of Corrections with Keefe Commissary Network LL. LLC, the contracted to ensure that there is no cessation of commissary services for the inmates and detainees in the Atlanta City Detention Center in an amount not to exceed $540,000. Annually, all uh commissions owed to the city shall be deposited into a trust fund. 090220 01 Correctional Food Services 34230001 Proceeds from inmates 34200 0. Adult correctional institutions 600270. Inmate deposits 6999. No capital trust projects and all contracted work shall be charged to and paid from 7701 trust fund 090101 corrections commissary of cor commissary of corrections and 02120001 consulting professional services 32000000 chief Chief Executive 600405 Jail Fund Administration 6999 Non-Cap Trust Projects and for other purposes. >> I will refer to the public safety and legal administration committee and colleagues just to point out we are at quorum. So please no one leave this room till we get done unless someone journeys back in here. Council member Bond >> Elm's ID number 38925, an ordinance by Council Member Michael Julian Bond to amend the sunset dates of certain allocation districts, tax allocation districts of the city of Atlanta and to establish sunset dates of certain tax allocation districts of the city of Atlanta and to provide that those tax allocation districts of the city of Atlanta shall not sunset prior to December 31st, 2055. specifically including the Westside Tax Allocation District, Perry Bolton Tax Allocation District, East Side Tax Allocation District, Beltline Tax Allocation District, Hamilton Road Tax Allocation District, Hollowell Martin Luther King Tax Allocation District, Metropolitan Parkway Tax Allocation District, and Stadium Neighborhoods Tax Allocation District to ratify confirm and approve the amendments to the redevelopment plans in respect of the foregoing tasks to formally request the participation and consent of the board of commissioners of Fulton County and the Atlanta board of education and for other purposes. I'll be referred to the CDHS committee. >> Elm's ID number 38940, a resolution by council member Michael Julian Bond requesting the mayor or his designate to close the driveway and remove the no parking signs located at 261 Peter Street Southwest and for other purposes. >> Item be referred to the transportation committee. >> That concludes my papers. Mr. President, >> thank you. Thank you, Council Member Bond. Next up, Council Member Doer. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro Tim, I have two items today. The first one is Elms ID number 38792. An ordinance by council member Jason Doa to reszone from SP I 21 S sub area 7 historic west end nator park special public interest district sub area 7 to SPI21 sub area 8 for property located at zero people street southwest partial ID 140117000000798 to modify the official zoning map and for other purposes >> I'll refer to the zoning committee >> and final item is Elms ID number 38794, an ordinance by council member Jason Doer to amend the land use planning section of the 2025 plan a city of Atlanta comprehensive development plan so as to redesate property located at zero people street southwest from the low density residential development pattern designation to medium density residential classification and for other purposes. >> It'll be referred to the CDHS committee. >> That concludes my items for introduction. >> Council member Lewis [Music] Thank you. And this is a huge paper for the southside and a huge paper for the future of the growth of the city of Atlanta. Elms 38933, a resolution by council member Antonio Lewis requesting that the city of Atlanta designate or acquire property within the Gilbert Garden area for the purpose of developing affordable housing to direct the department of city planning, office of housing and community development to conduct a fe feasibility study and implementation implementation plan and other purposes. Whereas the city of Atlanta is experiencing an affordable housing shortage. >> This is not a a media, does it? >> No. >> Okay. You don't have to read the warehouse though. >> I want to I want to make sure that the people can hear you. >> Okay, that's fine. >> And so so whereas the city of Atlantic is experiencing an affordable housing shortage that threatens this the stability of families and communities across the city. And whereas the Gilbert Garden area represents an opportunity site in the district 12 with potential for new affordable housing development given its community access, transit and employment centers. And be it finally resolved that based on the results of the feasibility study, the department of city planning, office of housing and community development shall prepare and recommend strategy for acquisition and designation of the Gilbert Garden as an affordable housing development site within 120 days. Thank you. item be referred to the CDHS committee. Council member one. >> All right. Thank you. Elms ID 3887, a resolution by council member Alex Juan authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to execute an encroachment agreement with the Peace Tree Hill Civic Association, Inc. for the installation of a fully solar powered automatic license plate reader on a 12-oot high clock pole in the Peach Tree Hills Avenue Northeast rideway located at 380 Peach Tree Hills Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. And for other purposes, >> I'll be referred to the transportation committee. >> Elms ID 3888, a resolution by council member Alex Juan authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to execute an encroachment agreement with Peace Tree Hills Civic Association, Inc. for the installation of a fully solarp powered automatic license plate reader on a 12oot high flock pole in the Hurst Drive Hurst Drive rightway located at 22 27 Lindberg Drive northeast Atlanta, Georgia 30305 and for other purposes. >> I don't refer to the transportation committee. Elms 38935, an ordinance by council member Alex Juan to establish a 180day moratorum on the acceptance of any new demolition permit applications for properties located on Peach Tree Circle Northeast between 16th Street Northeast and Peach Tree Street Northeast and for other purposes. I'll be referred to the zoning committee >> elms 38937 ordinance by council member Alex Juan authorizing a donation in an amount not to exceed $55,000 from the council president carry forward account to various nonprofit organizations pursuant to section 6306 of the city of Atlanta's charter and for other purposes >> I'll refer to the finance executive committee >> and finally 38939 an ordinance from council member Alex Juan authorizing the transfer of funds from various Atlanta city council carry forward accounts to the history six account now. Okay. The appropriate distribution and expense accounts to replenish funds for fiscal year 2026 and for other purposes. >> I'll be referred to the finance executive committee. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Pro >> Council member Winston. >> Thank you. I've got two items. First item, ELMS ID 38893, an ordinance by council member Jason Winston, authorizing the mayor or his designate on behalf of the department of grants and community development to ratify and affirm all services rendered and payments made under the community development software agreement number listed with Benovette, Inc. for the term beginning November the 1st, 2024 through October 31st, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $48,000 for the administration and dispersement of government funds through its neighborly application management platform for the mayor or his designate to execute any and all documents necessary to effectiate the ratification of all services rendered and payments made during the period. All contracted work shall be charged to and paid from the account numbers listed herein and for other purposes. >> I'll be referred to the CDHS committee. Second item, ELMS ID 38894, an ordinance by Winston authorizing the mayor or his design in his sole discretion to enter into and execute the appropriate agreements and other documents with the United States Department of Housing and Urb Devel urban development that the CD attorney deems necessary or advisable or uh in order to effectuate the city's receipt of the 2025 community development block grant programs emergency solutions grant programs home investment ment fund program and housing opportunities for person with AIDS program entitlement grants on behalf of the department of grants and community development and subject to the mayor's execution of such agreements to amend the FY2026 community development fund budget in an amount not to exceed 7,200,753 for the purpose of funding the 2025 CB CDBG program and the 2025 ESG program to amend the FY2026 intergovernmental grant fund budget in an amount not to exceed 15,399,142 and0 for the purpose of funding the 2025 HOPA program and to amend the FY2026 home investment fund budget in an amount not to exceed 2,31,8429 for the purpose of funding the home program by adding to anticipations and appropriations fund awarded by HUD in an amount not to exceed 24,63 $1,69929 and to authorize the MERS's design to enter into various contractual agreements with subreients and project sponsors awarded in the 2025 notice of funding availability and to amend the 2025 intergovernmental grant fund budget for the purpose of reprogramming 2022 23 3 and 24 Hopper funds in an amount not to exceed 500 $500,1,000 and to amend the 2025 community development fund budget for the purpose of reprogramming 2020 CEDBG CARES Act funds in an amount not to exceed $100,000. All contracted work shall be charged to and paid from the accounts listed in hearing. >> It'll be referred to the CDHS committee. >> Thank you. I have one item, ELMS number 38941, an ordinance by council member Hillis to wave certain provisions of part two land development code part 16 zoning section number listed to allow six foot walls and fences in the half depth front yards for property located in the Riverside neighborhood under other purposes. I'll be referred to the zoning committee. >> Colleagues, we are now at General Marks. Any general remarks? Council member Boone. >> Yes. Um, please join the Atlanta Commission on Women for a town hall meeting October 14th, 6:00 p.m. special guest speaker, State Representative Ingel Willis. Women, um, please come out to discuss women's issues such as employment, health, and any concerns. The Atlanta Commission on Women is interested in hearing from you October 14th here in this very chambers. The officers are chairperson Candace Mitchell Esquire, Vice Chair Kajar Anderson, Carly Swift Esquire, and others. Please join the Atlanta Commission on Women on October 14th here in the Atlanta City Council chambers. >> Thank you, Council Member Amos. Yes, sir. Of course, as this time of year, it's work anniversaries time. Have District 3's very own Aaliyah Fleming celebrating two years. James Arger, District 8, 14 years. Um, Mr. President Pro Tim, your own Denise Word, nine years. Um, District 9 20 years. Then you have Mary Tanner celebrating 12 years and Jasmine uh tail celebrating 11 years. So, um, thank you to everyone that has been here. We have one more. Miss Price celebrating one year. So, congratulations to everyone on their anniversary. >> Thank you, Council Member Ramos. Council member Juan. >> Thank you, Mr. Prom colleagues and to the viewing public. Uh, I want to wish everybody a happy Atlanta Pride. Um, this is the week every fall that we celebrate. Uh, it'll be it'll start with the mayor's pride reception on Thursday evening followed by festivities in District 6 in Pedmont Park. Uh, and the parade is on Sunday stepping off um not far from here at noon. Um we will have a city council will have a float invite all y'all to come join us and um celebrate in the festivities. Thank you >> council biari. >> Thank you. First and foremost I want to wish a happy birthday to Byron Amos >> who >> was it like like 30 32. >> There you go. Um and then also want to I also want to congratulate my team. Um wish a happy birthday to Mattie Burgerer on my staff uh who is the only reason communications get out of my office. And I also want to congratulate Alex Mel and my team for passing the bar and officially becoming a lawyer. So >> I'm very lucky to have an amazing team. So >> thank you, >> Council Member Lewis. And I want to send prayers and every every prayer I can to the Teamsters for the loss of President Emmeritus Raph Mirs. Teamsters Local 527 South referred to as PPWU and the printers union. Just want to send as as many prayers as I can out to the Teamsters. >> Thank you, Council Member Lewis. Any other members wishing to make announcements? I'll just say I'm the one wearing my pink today. So, uh, a happy breast cancer awareness month. And just as a, uh, nurse, former ICU nurse, uh, encourage everyone to go out and get the cancer screenings that are very easy to do, uh, that catch a lot of cancers, and that is not just breast cancer, but colon cancer, prostate cancer. And as a 40-year-old, I went and had my first, uh, skin cancer checkup, uh, about a few months ago, and they caught two, uh, precancerous, but very soon to become cancer, they thought, uh, spots on my back that got cut out. So, please go get a screen for your cancer. And again, happy breast cancer awareness month. >> Journey roll call. We will now have a journey roll call from Madame Clerk. So, have council member Michael Julian Bond, post one at large. Council member Matt West Morland, post two at large. Council member Isa Collins, post three at large. Council member Jason H. Winston, District 1. >> Council member Carden Wyoff, District 2. Council member Byron D. Amos, District 3. >> Council member Jason Dozer, District 4. >> Council member Liliana Bactiari, District 5. >> Council member Alex Juan, District 6. >> Council member Mirori, District 8. >> Council President Prom, Dustin Hills, District 9, >> present. >> Council member Andrea Elon, District 10. >> Council member Marcy Kar overre, District 11. Council member Antonio Lewis, District 12. Okay. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. If there is no further business, after a very fun-filled committee of a whole council meeting, we stand adjourned.